I'll tell you a story about the polygraph

[abusedbygov]

Well, I'll tell you a story about the polygraph. I'm a convicted 'sex offender' even though there was no sex and no one, other than me, was offended (more on that later.) As part of my 'treatment' I was given a "full sexual disclosure" polygraph. The entire test consisted of 9 questions. 3 were control stuff like "is your name Joe" etc. A couple more were in the realm of "have you been truthful on the pre-test?" Finally, there were 2 questions about sex with minors. "Have you had sex with a minor since you were 25?" (No.) "Have you had any sexual contact with minors that you are not telling me about since you were 25?" (No.) After the test, I asked for my results. I figured I passed easily, since I hadn't lied about anything. Ho ho ho for me. The polygrapher stated "It was inconclusive." He seemed upset about this. I asked him what that meant, and he said "When they ask me, I will be forced to say that I have no opinion'.

Last month, my counselor told me she was "concerned" about some answers I had given on the test. I was floored, since I thought it was 'inconclusive'. The polygrapher stated that, even though he couldn't get a fucking reading from the Oracle, it was his opinion that I was employing 'countermeasures' on the last 2 questions! Just the last 2. I read up on 'countermeasures' in your countermeasure section and concluded that it was WAY to complicated for my little brain, so I went in there and figured "what the hell" and took their stupidassed test. I breathed the way he told me; I didn't fidget; I didn't move. I answered all the questions in the same monotone. BUT, because his God can't be fallible, obviously it MUST be the fault of the examinee. Hence, I fucked with his test. So, he interpreted the test in a way that made him feel good about the machine--his god--and made me the fall guy. Technically, if my P.O. thinks I'm up to no good as a result of this test, she could violate me and send me back to prison. All because some polygrapher cannot fathom his God having feet of clay. God save us from the true believers!!!

[stefano]

I read up on 'countermeasures' in your countermeasure section and concluded that it was WAY to complicated for my little brain

I would encourage you to have more self confidence. Read it over and over again. It does not require great aptitude, just practice and refinement. Also, I personally would recommend continuing with treatment to the best of your ability. Be honest and use countermeasures only to ensure you don't get a false positive result. If ever you feel you are in jeopardy because of a polygraph "test", you should seek the advice of your attorney immediately.

[stefano]

Last month, my counselor told me she was "concerned" about some answers I had given on the test.

You should tell your counselor that her analysis methods are incongruent with established polygraph techniques. The polygraph technique requires a scoring of all the charts as a single entity with a cumulative score which will render a decision of Deception Indicated, No Deception Indicated or Inconclusive--there is no line item veto. If this polygraphist indeed did properly score your charts and found such score to be Inconsclusive, then you neither passed nor failed it. Tell your counselor to study up on the Single Issue Backster Zone Comparison Test and she will see it in black and white. These notions of seeing reaction on one particular question and extrapolating it to deception have little utility beyond using it as a rubber hose during your interrogation.

[Administrator]

abusedbygov,

Thank you for sharing your story, but please refrain from cross-posting to multiple threads. Duplicates of your post have been deleted, and this post along with replies have been moved to a new message thread.

[abusedbygov]

Sorry. I didn't know which forum was the most apropos.

[pailryder]

I'm a convicted 'sex offender' even though there was no sex and no one, other than me, was offended (more on that later.)

aubsedbygov

I look forward to the rest of your story.

[abusedbygov]

Last month, my counselor told me she was "concerned" about some answers I had given on the test.

You should tell your counselor that her analysis methods are incongruent with established polygraph techniques. The polygraph technique requires a scoring of all the charts as a single entity with a cumulative score which will render a decision of Deception Indicated, No Deception Indicated or Inconclusive--there is no line item veto. If this polygraphist indeed did properly score your charts and found such score to be Inconsclusive, then you neither passed nor failed it. Tell your counselor to study up on the Single Issue Backster Zone Comparison Test and she will see it in black and white. These notions of seeing reaction on one particular question and extrapolating it to deception have little utility beyond using it as a rubber hose during your interrogation.

Thanks for replying to my post. I have a question for you, though. In researching the Backster Zone Test (and bear with me, I'm a complete neophyte) it seems there is some controversy as to whether or not it is, de facto, the final word on the subject. Some "experts" (?) say it is, some say it is not. Who is the authority?

[stefano]

Thanks for replying to my post. I have a question for you, though. In researching the Backster Zone Test (and bear with me, I'm a complete neophyte) it seems there is some controversy as to whether or not it is, de facto, the final word on the subject. Some "experts" (?) say it is, some say it is not. Who is the authority? 

There is no real authority--only depends on which shaman one chooses to bow to. I suggest you read up on the entire history of the polygraph and you'll see its evolution. I cited the Backster ZCT as the core concept which envisions my previous point where the determination of Deception or Not cannot be dissected from the scrutiny of individual questions but rather from a holistic approach to the charts as being a single entity. Any thread of accuracy they claim diminishes dramatically as they veer from the Single Issue ZCT.