gotta take the test

[tellinbftruth]

Hi, I'm new here and looking for some advice. I've told my boyfriend that I will submit to a lie detector test to prove to him that his own brother is lying about me. I won't get into the whole story because it's too long. But his brother and his brother's best friend have said that I had sex with his brother, and unless I was drugged, it never happened. His brother did try to have sex with me, but I didn't let him. So I'm kinda wondering what type of questions to expect on this subject. I know that I was in the wrong place at the wrong time and that's all my own fault, but I'm a tough cookie and I don't let anyone take advantage of me. Any advice, because I am a little worried that I'm going to freak out when I get in there and they hook me up and that I'm going to fail and he's going to believe his brother instead of me.

[polyfool]

tellinbftruth:
Don't submit to a polygraph. They don't work. Just because you are being honest does not mean the poly will determine you truthful. Polygraphs are biased against the very truthful. Back out of the poly and if your boyfriend doesn't believe you when you say you didn't sleep with his brother, dump him. Why would you want to get mixed up in such a family? Your  boyfriend's brother hitting on you? Not cool. You're better off removing yourself from this screwed up situation.

[gelb disliker]

is this AntiPolygraph.org or is this the Jerry Springer show?  

[tellinbftruth]

his brother was beyond drunk when he hit on me, so he wasn't exactly sane at the time. But I have to do this to prove to him. I'm in an unfair situation with this simply because it's 2 against 1, so I understand why he wants me to take a test.

[George W. Maschke]

tellinbftruth,

You'll find the most common polygraph technique, the so-called "control" question "test," briefly explained on the AntiPolygraph.org homepage. For a more detailed explanation of polygraph procedure, see Chapter 3 of The Lie Behind the Lie Detector.

According to polygrapher James Allan Matte (Forensic Psychophysiology Using the Polygraph, pp. 473-474), probable-lie "control" questions (ones that you're expected to lie to, or at least feel so uncomfortable as to produce a physiological response) that might be used when the relevant subject is fidelity include:

Do you remember ever engaging in an unnatural sex act?
Do you remember ever engaging in illicit sexual activity?
Do you remember ever being unfaithful to someone who trusted you?
Do you remember ever violating the trust of someone who loved you?
Do you remember ever doing anything sexually that you are ashamed of?

You'll find tips on how to reduce the risk of a false positive outcome in Chapter 4 of TLBTLD.

That said, I have to agree with polyfool that you should not submit to the polygraph. They are degrading and they don't work. Even if you choose to use countermeasures, you cannot be 100% certain that you will pass. And even if you take a polygraph and pass, you cannot be certain that your boyfriend will trust you. I think it would be better to tell your boyfriend that you've changed your mind. In doing so, you can refer him to the information you've found here.

Whatever choice you make, I wish you well in what must be a trying situation.