Well, I wondered on over to the anti-anti-polygraph site and looked around. I have to say it's really something to see the amount of trust a group of people have in the 'science' of polygraphy.
The fact that some people feel a machine can detect deception, disguised as 'reactions' and discern those 'reactions' from normal feelings of anxiousness about very serious questions, is astonishing.
But objectively, my own opinions and interpretations of what I have read here and there aside, I'm left in the middle as to if the act of polygraphy does more harm than good. It is probably based in 50/50 assumptions, but it does get people to admit to things they wouldn't normally admit to. Things that those who are doing the testing deem important to know, before making important decisions.
And the harm I speak of is that where people are falsy accused of things and fail the test accordingly. Maybe those are the cost of the 'just-in-time' admissions?
Maybe it should be called the 'Admissiongraph'.
hmph.
Randy
Randy,
My problem with polygraphs is they don't seem to work, but major decisions are made using these machines. I was totally honest and failed anyway. It is/was unfair to lose out on a dream job because of this. It is like being robbed of something that you cannot get back.
But I don't think anyone should be deliberately dishonest. That is contemptable.
Polygraph is a game played by examiners to make sure that you lose. The fact that you sit in their chair, answer their inane questions, just shows them who has the power. You know in your heart, that you answered truthfully but they still want to hear otherwise. So they goad you and goad you into answering differently. They'll be persistant until you lie to them.
Seems to me that they all seem to be connected with the FBI, CIA or some government agency to give them credibility. There's more against you than for you when you give in to a polygraph examination. Read Mr. Maschke's book; "The lie behind the lie detector test" and arm yourself if you ever "have" to take a polygraph exam. They play the game without rules and you should too.