Polygraph Question

[trentl1999]

I had a polygraph exam the other day. This was only the second time I had a polygraph exam. My first exam ever was last week. This exam was a bit different the first one I had with another department. We basically went over a few topics from my background packet and we went over the questions to be asked on the polygraph to make sure I understood the questions. My responses were recorded via my signature on paper prior to the actual exam starting. Just before the exam started, I was hooked up to the apparatus, and I was asked 6 times whether I was currently in a particular state. All states except for one were not states I was currently in. I was asked to lie when I was asked about the actual state. I was told that they wanted to get my reading while lying. They said they would then start the exam by asking the set of questions 2 to 3 times with a break in between each set.

I was asked the set of questions only 2 times. After that the exam was over. The detective didn't state whether I had any questionable readings and didn't review any of the questions to glean what I might have been thinking. I wasn't give any indication on how I did. I thanked them for there time and that was it. I have only had two polygraph exams, so I am not sure how to guage the results. Is what I have outlined from my experience normal? Does it sound positive at all?

I guess I am feeling a little empty/uneasy not really knowing how I did.

[k9cop21811]

I have only take one polygraph, but as far as I can gather, it sounds like you did well. One of the polygraphers jobs (someone please correct me if I'm wrong) is to call you on things he thinks you may be trying to cover up, i.e. lie about. In the absence of that I don't know how to take your situation here as anything other than positive. I highly doubt you have anything to worry about. Good luck with your processing.

[JerseyBoy]

This kind of confuses me. When the Polyographer (or whatever they are called) asks you to, "lie" about a certain question, how can the machine actually tell you that you are lying? In a sence you are telling them what they want to hear so it won't get you into trouble. Does your body actually react differently when you are told to lie?

[SP20]

What the poly guy told me was that you still know it is a lie and it will read that way, just like if you really lie, you know it is a lie and will read that way. I know it sounds like a simple explanation but that is the way it is.
let me give you another example. My guy had me pick a card that had a number on it. There were 7 cards total. I was told to memorize the # but not tell him. He then hooked me up and told me to say no to every number he asked me that I picked, essentially lying once and telling the truth 6 times. He then picked the number I picked just by looking at how I reacted to answering no to all. Pretty accurate if you ask me.

[gcc123]

ONE THING I MUST ADD ABOUT POLYGRAPH TESTS, IS THAT IT HAS BEEN REVELAED BY MANY PSYCHOLOGISTS THAT A LIE DETECTOR TEST WILL NOT TELL THE EXAMINER IF YOU ARE LYING OR NOT. IT ONLY DETECTS EMOTIONS ON WHAT IS BEING ASKED OF YOU. THEREFORE IF YOU KNOW THAT CERTAIN THINGS WILL DQ YOU, SUCH AS STEALING, DRUGS ETC.. WOULDN'T YOU BE EMOTIONAL DURING THESE QUESTIONS, SINCE THEY WILL DETERMINE WETHER YOU PASS OR FAIL?:eek:

[lccpd]

I agree with gcc123, a lie detector test does not detect lies, it detects your body's reaction. Now they have been proven to be mostly accurate (I guess, since most departments use them), but they are not 100% accurate.
As to your case, you seemed to have done well, since they did not stop the test and grill on any questions.

[Badge11]

He was asking you a control question. Technically, if you are lying your body will give out specific responses, your breathing and blood pressure will increase, and you will perspire more. He will then take your response to the control question and compare that to your other responses to look for similarities, patterns, etc.

Your situation was normal. Some examiners will go over with you any concerns they have with your responses right away(especially the ones that like to play the mind games). Others will just report their opinions to your b.i. who will then probably attempt to dig deeper into your background.

Good luck!

[HK_precop]

I just wanted to note that i've always had my suspicions about the accuracy of polygraphing. I think in my opinion it's such a well used device by law enforcement it's become of those concrete standards that won't be changed for a long time to come. All the polygraph really does is measure physiological responses to stimuli. In the hands of an extremely good polygrapher I think it may be accurate. The polygraph is just a interrogation tool really and the polygrapher is a trained interrogater.