Does anyone know what standard current questions might be found on CIA and NSA "Lifestyle" employment screening polygraphs, and which questions would be treated as relevant?
I read False +'s report, as well as No Such Author's. It seemed like the questions along the lines of "have you ever thought about" such and such might qualify as control questions, and questions about whether you've actually done some of them might be "relevant" (although it's tough to believe anyone would actually think whether you've had sex in a different position than the Missionary would be relevant ;^) I read recently that such extremely personal questions about sex are no longer asked.
For that matter, are they even looking for "truthfulness" on some of these questions? Are they just trying to see how shocked you'll be?
Any information would be appreciated!
Thanks,
Skeptic
Skeptic,
We don't have a question list for either agency. (Perhaps recent applicants would be interested in compiling one here?)
One "control" question that has been used in counterintelligence-related polygraph screening is, "Have you ever thought about (or fantasized about) committing espionage?"
A question of a sexual nature could be used as a kind of "shock control" question. For example, U.S. Secret Service polygraphers are known to ask applicants if they have had sex with an animal during the "in-test" phase.
Where did you read that personal questions about sex are no longer being asked? I think this might be the case in the NSA, but I'm not sure about the CIA. The following passage from James Bamford's recent book,
Body of Secrets: Anatomy of the Ultra-Secret National Security Agency (http://www.bodyofsecrets.com) will be of interest:
Quote"The worst experience of my life," said one former NSA Russian linguist, "was the lie-detector test." After starting out with questions about shoplifting, the polygraph operator quickly turned to sex, asking if she was into bestiality. "If you have sex, they want to know how much. If you have too much sex, they get scared. If you don't have sex, they think you're gay. At the time I wasn't dating anybody and they kept wanting to know, 'Why don't you have a boyfriend?'" That test was given in 1993. More recently, NSA claims, the questions have been less intrusive.
Hi Skeptic,
Remember that your polygrapher will go over the questions he will pose to you during the in-test (strapped into the machine) phase prior to being hooked up. Many produce them in writing and hand them to you. This is a very good time to feign being a slow reader, as you can take your time, relax, read over the questions, and do your best to categorize them.
Dave
Quote from: George W. Maschke on Jun 24, 2002, 08:02 AM
Where did you read that personal questions about sex are no longer being asked? I think this might be the case in the NSA, but I'm not sure about the CIA.
I read it in a discussion about lifestyle polygraphs (a post by "Perry"):
http://www.restonweb.com/community/restontalk/messages010525/363.html
Unfortunately, the posters were pretty much uncredentialed in that exchange, so that claim could be someone blowing smoke.
According to the DSS's adjudication desk reference, issues of a sexual nature are still considered relevant, either because they might indicate compulsive behavior (psychological problems), involve criminal behavior, reflect a lack of good judgement, or leave someone open to blackmail. With that in mind, I would imagine polygraphers conducting lifestyle polygraphs are still free to delve into such things.
Skeptic