Help, failed voluntary poly

[frustrated2]

A relative (yes, for real) is accused of a sexually related indiscretion with a family member many tens of years ago. It basically boils down to a bit of ass grabbing and naughty words. Not that that was right.

However, the alleged incident has been blow WAAAAY out of proportion by the accusing party as a way to manipulate the family.

My relative, uniformed about poly other than a basic belief that polygraphy "works" voluntarily paid for and took an exam, answered all questions (he composed them!) honestly and got "inconclusives" and a  "weak" deceptive indication.  He was totally freaked out about it before going, but wanted to do something the defend himself - yet even MORE freaked out that in an attempt to defend himself, ended up incriminated. And, unfortunately, members of the family are waiting for results...

He took the test a second time after reading the TTBTL and failed in a worse fashion. His polygrapher deduces his anxiety over his life being destroyed weighs heavily on the physical responses...i.e., any direct reference to a vindictive accusor trips him up.
His polygrapher now recommends writing things down on paper and referring to the accusor in third party terms as a way to mollify triggering responses by mention of the accusors name.

Please, anyone, advise in general or advise as to whether or not he should go through this a THIRD time.

Thank you,

[George W. Maschke]

I think it was a mistake for your relative to submit to a polygraph "test" in the first place, and that a third polygraph would be a waste of time and money.

You indicate that relatives will know that he "failed" the first "test" (and perhaps the second?). Whether or not he "passes" a third polygraph, it is not likely to provide convincing evidence to them that he was telling the truth.

What your relative might do instead is to share what he has learned about polygraphy (that is, that it's pseudoscientific quackery) with the rest of the family. Polygraphy is inherently biased against the truthful, and it is hardly surprising that a truthful person might "fail," especially with such an emotionally charged topic.