A polygraph is also called a lie detector. Previously, this device was used exclusively during interrogations in the framework of criminal proceedings. Today, it is used by many companies when choosing a job applicant to determine in advance the reliability of the information provided and identify unpleasant facts from the biography that a person is trying to hide. Therefore, quite often on the forums and just during conversations, the question arises of how to behave correctly on a polygraph. It is clear that every person is trying to protect his personal life from outside interference, even if "there is no skeleton in the closet."
Truth or myth?
Today you can find information, even in "authoritative sources" that the information obtained during the polygraph test is 99% reliable. In fact, this is pure myth, which is supported by the specialists working on the polygraph. First of all, the super-efficiency of the device allows you to create demand for services. Secondly, the polygraph examiner already ensures victory for himself. Indeed, in fact, it is no longer necessary to prove that the data received from the device are true.
For these reasons, the question arises: how to behave on a polygraph? After all, refusing to pass the audit is also not accepted. Since another myth was created that an honest person has nothing to hide, therefore, a refusal to check is regarded as evidence of unreliability. Although no one is obliged to share his inner world with others, if he does not want to.
How does it go
Conventionally, the entire verification procedure can be divided into 5 stages:
- First, the polygraph examiner examines the information about the person being tested. If we are talking about any incident, and it is necessary to obtain information about this, then all the subtleties of the case are studied.
- At the second stage, a brief conversation with the person being tested is conducted. He is dedicated in the intricacies of the procedure, announce a short list of questions that will be asked.
- At the third stage, the polygraph is directly applied, that is, a test is performed. The polygraph examiner asks questions and records the answers.
- Depending on the situation, the inspector may ask additional questions to clarify the details.
- And the very last step is optional. The test results are announced to the test person.
What is asked
Conventionally, all questions on the polygraph are divided into four groups:
- standard;
- control;
- significant
- forbidden.
The first category of questions is also called neutral, and they are asked without fail, regardless of the reasons for the test. The main goal is to adjust the sensitivity of the polygraph. They ask for personal data, can clarify passport data and ask other questions depending on the topic. For example, if it is a crime, they find out what kind of relationship they had with the victim or whether the person being tested knows about it.
All questions are asked in a specific order, and they are formulated in such a way that they can be answered only with “yes” or “no”.
Controls are set in order to make a person experience strong emotions. And significant ones allow you to find out when the subject is lying, and when he is telling the truth.
It is not allowed to be interested in nationality, sexual preferences, and ask questions about political and religious views.
Contraindications
Before you go through the polygraph, you should familiarize yourself with the list of people who are not subject to the test. Perhaps the testee falls into one of the categories and is not threatened with such a test.
Do not check pregnant women, regardless of the term. The following persons are not subject to testing:
- with asthma;
- allergy with cough;
- with acute respiratory infections;
- if you previously had a stroke or heart attack;
- minors under 16 years old;
- persons with a history of heart or respiratory system diseases;
- if the test person is taking drugs that affect the memory or brain;
- persons with mental disabilities.
Do not conduct tests if a person is in a state of hangover, drug or alcohol intoxication. Physical and mental exhaustion is also a contraindication for verification.
How to behave on a polygraph?
By mistake, a polygraph is often called a lie detector. In fact, no device is able to determine when a person is telling the truth and when he is lying. The polygraph only captures the physiological reactions of the test person.
In theory, it is believed that if a person does not lie or does not really know the questions for answers, then there are calm psychophysical reactions. And if the test person is hiding something, then his heart rate will increase, his breathing rhythm will change, his blood pressure will rise, his motor activity will appear and his voice may even change.
An interesting fact is that most social psychopaths do not even think about how to behave on a polygraph. They are so sure that there is no evidence of their guilt, inadequately perceive the social foundations, respectively, they behave very calmly during the inspection and do not reveal a fraction of the unrest.
Another category of people who do not ask this question is highly professional actors. They really know how to enter the role so much that at some point they completely identify with the selected character.
What knowledge will help
How to go through a polygraph? First of all, one should psychologically prepare for this and calm down. Secondly, a preliminary conversation with a polygraph examiner already allows you to understand what questions will be asked. And if there really is something to hide, then already at the preparatory stage you can “expel” the real picture from your mind and create a new legend that will be beneficial for the person being verified. The main thing is to believe in this invented legend.
Reducing the sensitivity of touch analyzers
How to behave when checking a polygraph? If we take as a basis the basic principle of the device - physiological reactions, then on the eve of passing the test you can drink alcohol. The next day, usually a person’s reactions are somewhat "inhibited", so he will not be able to objectively respond to provocative questions, therefore, the polygraph will not be able to draw definite conclusions.
Another way is special medical drugs. But in order to accept them, one should have pretty good knowledge and accurately calculate at what point the medicine will work. In practice, drugs that reduce blood pressure are often used.
Psychotropic drugs carry a fairly high risk. If you do not calculate the dose or do not know in advance the reaction of your body to them, then a person may behave inappropriately during the test.
However, if the test will be conducted on a polygraph by the police, in order to further use the results obtained in court, then a blood test will be performed without fail.
Chemical methods
To reduce the sensitivity of the skin, you can use ordinary medical alcohol. It allows you to narrow the sweat glands for a while. Along with alcohol, agents can be used that reduce sweating, all kinds of deodorants, talc and ointments. The main thing is that such products are not noticeable on the skin, have a long duration and are resistant to washing. According to some reports, good results can be achieved using salicylic-zinc ointment. But you should always remember that breathing will have to be controlled independently.
Emotion suppression
To get the results of a polygraph such as those required by the test person, you must try to deconcentrate yourself, that is, to distract yourself in the process of conducting the test. This can be done by focusing your attention on a wallpaper picture or picture. In principle, any neutral object will do.
Ideally, you need to forget that there is a polygraph nearby. But this method will require training so that everything that happens does not cause any suspicion.
Another approach that allows you to pass testing is reading poetry. The main thing is to completely plunge into the essence of the work, and to answer the questions of a polygraph examiner, as it were, by the way.
Drawing pin
How to behave on a polygraph and get the desired results? Another way that is described in millions of articles is a pushpin in shoes. She is put under her foot and at the moment when it is necessary to answer, a man steps on her. Naturally, the pain will cause a small surge of emotions. That is, the reaction to all questions will be almost the same, therefore, the device will regard them as true.
But due to the popularity of this method, the polygraph examiners often check the shoes of the tested. Therefore, this method is almost not applicable in practice.
Is it worth it?
In fact, it is quite possible to pass a polygraph successfully, without even resorting to any tricks. The main thing is to sincerely want this and have patience. But if you are still trying to hide something, then you should deceive the device with high quality in order to avoid further more serious problems.
And you should always remember that not a single scientific study has confirmed that a polygraph can reveal a lie. In fact, there is no clear pattern between what a person says and the reaction of the body.
The largest study in this area was conducted in the USA in 2002. Indeed, the researchers proved that the polygraph gives reliable results, but they still lack reliability. The examples presented in the study are no less interesting. According to estimates, if you check 10 thousand employees of one organization, assuming that they account for 10 disloyal workers, then the polygraph will detect only 8 of them. Moreover, 1,598 people will be mistakenly suspected of disloyalty.
In the United States, tests are conducted slightly differently than in Russia. On another continent, polygraph examiners ask provocative and accusatory questions. In our country, verification questions are asked, which reduces the likelihood of errors several times.