Cant believe it!

[Big Joe]

I took my second polygraph recently in which I supposbly failed.  The first time I failed because I was some drug lord and the guy couldnt believe that I only used weed a few times.  The second time for a different dept. I passed the drug question, go figure.  But "failed" on the question of lying on this application.  Now I was asked this same question on my previous poly and passed that time.  Even though this time I wrote down so much information about myself that the examinar said I was hurting myself by putting things that werent really needed.  Its so frustrating when you want to do a job and a machine has to decide your fate.  I know now the polygraph is flawed due to the questions I have passed and now failed!  Any advice?

[T.M. Cullen]

Even though this time I wrote down so much information about myself that the examinar said I was hurting myself by putting things that werent really needed.

That is exactly what you should NOT do.  Realize that the polygraph is nothing more than an interrogation.  It is NOT a test for truthfulness.

The machine measures your state of nervous arousal, not whether you are telling the truth.  If they told you the machine indicated you were being deception, that is simply not true.  Your experience should now prove that to you.  If a polygraph operator insists you are lying when answering a question, even though you telling the truth, it is likely you will "react" to that question.  You can tell the truth, yet react.  Being "deceptive" is NOT the possible reason for a reaction on the machine.

The less you say the better.  If you consistently "react" as measured by the machine, they will probe and probe until you give them something they can blow out of proportion to fail you with.  It has little to do with truthfulness.  If you are continually reacting, they will ASSume you are lying (even though your aren't).

They capitalize on the fact that most people are guillibe and naive, and believe in the popular cultural myth that the polygraph can detect deception.  It doesn't.  But it is a VERY good interrogation method.

TC

P.S.  The following statement from the National Academy of Sciences may be of interest to you:

"[polygraph testing's] accuracy in distinguishing actual or potential security violators from innocent test takers is insufficient to justify reliance on its use in employee security screening in federal agencies."


Applicants should read the above PRIOR to taking the test!  They'd be less likely to fall for the exmainer's false claims iduring the polygraph if they did.

[Big Joe]

All the information I gave him was pre test, in the booklit.  Post poly when he said something came up during the question I told him flat out I disagree and have no reason to waste his or my time by lying.  So I did not admit to anything after the test, I held my ground.  Maybe he was just bullshitting me and trying to get me to confess, which is pretty sad.  

[T.M. Cullen]

Good for you!

Not much you can do now except wait.  Maybe he was bullshitting.

Good luck!