Polygraph Quetion

[MarkP]

I filled out a five page questionnare, went over it with one of the officers on the hiring board and go in for the polygraph in a few weeks. However, after leaving my meeting with the hiring guy and learning a little about polygraphy, I started re-thinking a few of my original responses. If I clarify one or two of these with the polygrapher before the actual test, will this be a problem? My "clarifications" don't seem like huge confessions (at least not to me). I said, for example, that I have not once driven after drinking in the last 3 years. I assumed, in the brief moment I had when filling out the questionnare, that this meant, have you "been intoxicated" when driving, to which I would truthfully say, "no." But I have had ONE drink with dinner at resteraunts and driven after. Now, after learning a little about the polygraph, I'm starting to think I really messed up and they're gonna determine I'm a liar, etc, etc.

Any advice?

MarkP

[George Maschke]

MarkP,

There is no need to contact your departmental contact to report that you've had one drink with dinner and driven afterwards.

The question "Did you ever drink while under the influence of alcohol?" is a "probable-lie control question" that is commonly used by law enforcement agencies in pre-employment polygraph screening. The polygrapher tries to convince the examinee that drinking and driving is a very serious offense and would be grounds for disqualification. But it's secretly expected that everyone is going to have difficulty answering this question with an unequivocal "no." The examinee's reaction to this "control" question is then compared with his/her reaction to a corresponding relevant question (one that really counts), like "Did you ever use an illegal drug?" If reactions to the "control" question are greater, you pass; if reactions to the relevant question are greater, you fail. Perversely, the more honestly you answer the "control" question, and as a consequence experience less stress when answering it, the more likely you are to fail...

For more on "control" questions and other details of the polygraph screening process, see Chapter 3 of The Lie Behind the Lie Detector.

[DaveTO]

>>The examinee's reaction to this "control" question is then compared with his/her reaction to a corresponding relevant question (one that really counts), like "Did you ever use an illegal drug?" If reactions to the "control" question are greater, you pass; if reactions to the relevant question are greater, you fail.


Sounds logical, George. I have to ask though, as someone who has NEVER had a drink and then drove, would I automatically fail?

[lich]

DaveTO:

You won't automatically fail by telling the truth to a question. You just raise the likelihood of having a false positive reading when you can calmly react to your denial of a question whose answer you are assumed to be deceitful in supplying. It doesn't necessarily mean you are assumed to be lying, it's just that so few people can deny certain vague or generic questions with a clean conscience, which supposedly relates to a stronger reaction by the examinee than a more specific question should. You might not be able to say you've never broken a drug law with the same conviction with which you can say you've never been involved in an armed robbery, even though you may have never broken any laws.

So you can calmly deny a vague question and calmly deny a specific one (and have an uncertain outcome), or have a strong reaction and a calm one (pass), or have a calm reaction and a strong one (fail). I'm simplifying it, but that's it in a nutshell.

Your future depends on how a person interprets your reaction to questions. Check Mr. Maschke's link above to get more information on the subject. The information is free and enlightening.

[George Maschke]

DaveTO,

Lich is right, you wouldn't automatically fail. But more importantly, the polygrapher should have verified whether or not you drink alcoholic beverages during the "pre-test" phase. The question about drinking and driving is not a suitable "control" question for those who don't drink. But the polygrapher has plenty of other stock probable-lie "control" questions from which to choose, e.g.:

• Did you ever take anything that did not belong to you?
  
• Did you ever steal anything from an employer?
  
• Did you ever lie to a loved one?
  
• Did you ever lie to someone in a position of authority?
  
• Did you ever lie to a supervisor?
  
• Did you ever lie to get out of trouble?
  
• Did you ever cheat on a test?
  
• Did you ever intentionally hurt someone?

Note that although the above are probable-lie "control" questions -- about things that everyone is secretly assumed to have done -- if admissions to them are serious enough, they could in some cases lead to an applicant's disqualification.

[MarkP]

Thank you, George et al, for your help.

So, you're saying that it's okay to clarify one or two of my initial responses to this questionnare that I filled out weeks before entering the polygraphers office. That, during the pre-test interview, it's okay to get things straight. I won't be dismissed right there as a liar?

I have another question: what if I react to something during the interview and then the polygrapher asks me if I have any idea why I may have reacted? Clearly, I'm not then going to provide a disqualifying admission, but what about something innocuous. For example, I "react" to something about drugs during the exam and the examiner questions me. I WAS at a party on one occasion in which I witnessed people lining up cocaine. I have absolutly no moral problem with this, since I myself didn't partake, and I would hope the agency to which I'm applying doesn't. AND, it may explain why I reacted to the drug questions. Is this something I should keep to myself or should I "help" the examiner?

What I really worry about, if the answer is "keep it to yourself" is alienating the examiner. I mean, if I have absolutly NO IDEA why I reacted to thus and such questions, I fear the examiner think I'm stonewalling, get pissed that I'm not helping him and then write the report accordingly.

Sorry for the longwindedness of this...again thanks.

p.s. I am currently reading the book.

[lich]

I'd really hate to call something this serious a game, but it might seem that way when you think about the scenario you've suggested.

You've reacted to a question and the examiner is suspicious. He questions you about your reaction. This is the point where the actual lie detection occurs. If you have been dishonest or less than completely truthful, the results of the test and the pressure of the examiner should sway you into revealing your deceit. If you say anything, you could find yourself talking your way into a failing score on the test.

The examiner has your detailed questionnaire, your responses to the pre-test interview, and your initial responses in the polygraph. Now he can compare the information here to see if there are any discrepancies, as well as use your alleged reactions to the questions in the polygraph to challenge your honesty. The more things you say, the more things the examiner has to use against you. The pressure for you to give in (even a little) increases as the duration of the test lengthens and the patience of the examiner shortens.

Trying to clear up a misstatement or a forgotten past action (in the hopes this will explain your reaction) is a mistake. If you contradict yourself you can and probably will fail the test.

There's too much information to share in one post, or one thread, but not a whole website. Mr. Maschke has set up www.antipolygraph.org to help people understand what the polygraph really is and how you can protect yourself from it. I know you've seen the site, but I want to make sure everyone who reads this thread has an opportunity to discover the truth.

[guest]

I would think this through and err on the side of caution. I assume your initial meeting was to go over your pre-poly questionairre. What you stated on your pre-poly questionairre is in stone and a matter of fact now with the department. The polygraphers job will be to tear your answers apart and obtain a confession. If you call back now and try to change or "clarify" your answers I am sure that will be looked down upon by the department. If you change or "clarify" anything to oyur polygrapher during the prepoly interview the polygrapher might chalk that up as a confession or make a fabricated confession out of it and disqualify you. If I were you I would stick to the answers you gave on oyur questionairre. I feel they will look upon you as not being to sure of yourself or trying to cover your tracks. Either way I feel changing your answers would sink you. Do as the book says and stick to your guns even during the post poly interogation!

TEXT
If you go back and clarify this the polygrapher/department is going to think you were not being 100% truthful with them when filling out the questionairre. They will think this little clarification is just the tip of the iceberg and probably defer you. The choice is yours but that is my take especially if the competition is keen in the department you are applying for.

[mikegee]

Why does George "assume" that EVERY examiner is trying to "get" the applicant? (his own bad experience?) As I've said before,unless someone or a group of someones get together and lobby against it in the Courts of the land,then gov't entities will continue to use the polygraph or similar systems (pupilary response,voice stress analyzer,etc). while it may be good to know what kind of tests you're taking, I would agree with DaveTO-answer your questions as prompted, and stop worrying about "conspiracy" theories.Only you know that you are telling the truth and being uncomfortable about taking a test is different from telling a LIE ( and Professional Examiners should know this) Bottom line is this -I've had friends that were D.Q'ed by intimidating Psych Doctors;When they applied elsewhere they passed (although the psych interviews are pretty much the same for all the agencies here in CA)-how'd they fail? Someone elses agenda! People are not perfect and some people actually think it is up to them to "decide who should be a police officer"-they might not like your race ,sex,or your "look".To this I differ to our Mr Maschke as potential for abuse-but that happens everywhere and at anytime(people are not robots-they are fallible).Your mission is to take the test,answer the required questions,pass and continue to the next phase of recruitment,not try to question the process-the legality of the process for hiring you has already been through Gov't review and found to be sound. Good luck on your processing.... P.S. "Geo" -give it a rest! Unless you took the test for every state and federal agency that has ever existed and they ALL "conspired" to fail you- you really don't have a leg to stand on. Failing the polygrapgh at one agency doesn't mean that you will be barred from retesting at that agency nor does it forever prevent you from applying and getting hired by another( I know from my own experience!) Stop spreading that"B.S." as you do an injustice to the many "hopefuls" here-Still waiting for an exact date,name of a corrupt examiner, and an agency that has reviewed its policy as well as an applicant that was able to prove the misdeed!! PLEASE PROVIDE THIS INFO ( Not that vague " Jim. S' of Middletown U.S.A sez... or Agent "X" ,with 10yrs of federal exprience said "CRAP" !!) File a federal law suit,do something if you don't like the process , just stop shooting down the hopes of those in the process (you tend to make sure you put in a negative point after being SOOO informative.) I invite you to discuss something else on one of the other threads. and as you yourself said, If someone reveals some serious misdeed to the examiner, wouldn't you ,George, want that person D.Q'ed? or would you want a previously unidentified rapist join the PD that patrols your community,then one day respond to your home when your wife and daughters are there alone? just my "three" cents, but thanks for some of your info..............