4th polygraph

[babygirl]

Hi all,

I have a few questions.  First some background, I just failed my third poly even though I have been
telling the truth.  I have always been a bad test taker.  After I failed the first one I checked
out the site read some of the false positive responses of others and read TTBTLD.  I thought about
using CM, but I figured I was telling the truth so, I thought maybe the first time was a fluke.
In addition the first one was of the type relevant\irrelevant and from what
I have read this type is mostly subjective. So a little while later I went in took my second one was treated the
same way and failed that one also.  This one was also a relevant\irrelevant type.
After a while I was called in to take my third one.  This time they throw a curve ball
at me and gave me the control question type.  The administrator was also much
more experience then the other two that I had before.  I was expecting another
relevant\irrelevant so I did not prepare to use CM. I again failed.

My questions are if I am asked to take a 4th should I use CM or would this
be obvious and not work at all?  If I am to use CM is it alright to combine
breathing techniques and mental? Also I did see a very little section on using
CM in on the relevant\irrelevant type, but I was confused as to how to use it?
Does it mean give responses to two different relevant questions in two different
groups?  For example if I am give the lifestyle part three times give a response to
different relevant questions in each of the three passes?

Thanks

[George W. Maschke]

My questions are if I am asked to take a 4th should I use CM or would this
be obvious and not work at all?

Countermeasures of the kind described in The Lie Behind the Lie Detector are not obvious to polygraphers. In fact, no polygrapher has ever demonstrated any ability to reliably detect them. Dr. Richardson's polygraph countermeasure challenge has now gone 197 weeks without takers.

However, any polygrapher is going to have a hard time believing that an examinee who has failed three polygraphs will not have researched polygraphy. Under the circumstances, the "complete honesty" approach suggested in Chapter 4 of TLBTLD may well be your best choice.

If I am to use CM is it alright to combine
breathing techniques and mental?

Yes. In fact, if you simply apply mental countermeasures, you're likely to naturally show a breathing reaction without having to think about it.

Also I did see a very little section on using
CM in on the relevant\irrelevant type, but I was confused as to how to use it?
Does it mean give responses to two different relevant questions in two different
groups?  For example if I am give the lifestyle part three times give a response to
different relevant questions in each of the three passes?

That's the basic idea. It helps to reduce the likelihood of reactions to any one relevant standing out.

Again, at this juncture, I think the "complete honesty" approach is probably your best option if asked to take a fourth polygraph. On second thought, how badly do you really want to work for an employer with the effrontery to rely on such quackery to assess your honesty and integrity? Perhaps your best option is to tell this agency to go to hell.