Learn How to Pass (or Beat) a Polygraph Test

Educate yourself. Before playing Russian roulette with your reputation, learn how to protect yourself against this invalid test. Download AntiPolygraph.org's free book (1 mb PDF):

The Lie Behind the Lie Detector

The dirty little secret behind the polygraph is that the "test" depends on trickery, not science. The person being "tested" is not supposed to know that while the polygraph operator declares that all questions must be answered truthfully, warning that the slightest hint of deception will be detected, he secretly assumes that denials in response to certain questions -- called "control" questions -- will be less than truthful. An example of a commonly used control question is, "Did you ever lie to get out of trouble?" The polygrapher steers the examinee into a denial by warning, for example, that anyone who would do so is the same kind of person who would commit the kind of behavior that is under investigation and then lie about it. But secretly, it is assumed that everyone has lied to get out of trouble.

The polygraph pens don't do a special dance when a person lies. The polygrapher scores the test by comparing physiological responses (breathing, blood pressure, heart, and perspiration rates) to these probable-lie control questions with reactions to relevant questions such as, "Did you ever commit an act of espionage against the United States?" (commonly asked in security screening). If the former reactions are greater, the examinee passes; if the latter are greater, he fails. If responses to both "control" and relevant questions are about the same, the result is deemed inconclusive.

The test also includes irrelevant questions such as, "Are the lights on in this room?" The polygrapher falsely explains that such questions provide a "baseline for truth," because the true answer is obvious. But in reality, they are not scored at all! They merely serve as buffers between pairs of relevant and "control" questions.

The simplistic methodology used in polygraph testing has no grounding in the scientific method: it is no more scientific than astrology or tarot cards. Government agencies value it because people who don't realize it's a fraud sometimes make damaging admissions. But as a result of reliance on this voodoo science, the truthful are often falsely branded as liars while the deceptive pass through.

Perversely, the "test" is inherently biased against the truthful, because the more honestly one answers the "control" questions, and as a consequence feels less stress when answering them, the more likely one is to fail. Conversely, liars can beat the test by covertly augmenting their physiological reactions to the "control" questions. This can be done, for example, by doing mental arithmetic, thinking exciting thoughts, altering one's breathing pattern, or simply biting the side of the tongue. Truthful persons can also use these techniques to protect themselves against the risk of a false positive outcome. Although polygraphers frequently claim they can detect such countermeasures, no polygrapher has ever demonstrated any ability to do so, and peer-reviewed research suggests that they can't.

Polygraph Countermeasure Challenge Clock
On 28 January 2002, retired FBI polygraph expert Dr. Drew C. Richardson reiterated his challenge to the polygraph community to prove their claimed ability to detect countermeasures (techniques for passing -- or beating -- the polygraph). This clock figure shows how long Dr. Richardson's challenge has gone without takers. What are the polygraph operators afraid of? (Listen to a personal message from Dr. Richardson.)

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Polygraph Operator William McCallister Arrested for Sexual Assault
William McCallister, a Florida polygraph operator specializing in "fidelity testing" and screening of convicted sex offenders, has himself been charged with criminal assault.

Upcoming Interview on Coast to Coast AM
AntiPolygraph.org co-founder George Maschke will be interviewed on the radio program Coast to Coast AM on the night of Monday-Tuesday, 5-6 December 2011 (1:00-5:00 AM Eastern/ 10:00 PM-2:00 AM PST).

AntiPolygraph.org on Google+
AntiPolygraph.org is now on Google+.

Cain Backpedals on Lie Detector, Cites "Layered Voice Analysis"
Republican presidential hopeful Herman Cain has backed off from his declaration at a press conference convened to address allegations of sexual harassment that he was "absolutely" willing to do a lie detector test. In an interview with Neil Cavuto of Fox News, Cain conditioned his willingness to do a lie detector test on the willingness of an accuser to do so.

CBS Atlanta Falls for Bogus Lie Detector
On Wednesday, 9 November 2011, CBS Atlanta aired an interview with private investigator T.J. Ward, who used a computer program to analyze recorded statements by Republican presidential candidate Herman Cain and Sharon Bialek, who alleges that Cain made a sexual advance on her when she sought his help getting a job. According to Ward's software, Cain "is being truthful, totally truthful" in denying Bialek's claim, while Bialek "is fabricating what transpired."

Herman Cain Would Absolutely Do a Lie Detector Test
During a press conference convened yesterday to address allegations of sexual harassment, Republican presidential candidate Herman Cain declared that he would "absolutely" be willing to take a lie detector test, though he quickly added, "but I'm not going to do that unless I have a good reason to do that."

Accused of using countermeasures, blacklisted...and totally innocent
I haven't spent much time on this website, but from what I can gather, this is a familiar story. Nevertheless, I feel like sharing my experience, even if it is mainly venting....

LTC Anthony Shaffer's Experience with the CIA Polygraph
US Army Lieutenant Colonel Anthony Shaffer, who alleges that a DIA data-mining program uncovered cells implicated in the 9/11 attacks in 2000, and DIA decided not to notify the FBI, briefly discussed his experience with the CIA's pre-employment polygraph screening program in his heavily-censored book, Operation Dark Heart...

Lie Detector Leads to Execution of Innocent Man in Taiwan
Dennis Engbarth reports for Inter Press Service on the case of Chiang Kuo-ching, a Taiwanese airman who was executed in 1997 for the rape and murder of a five-year-old girl.

Troy Davis and the Polygraph
Lawyers for Troy Davis, who faces execution by lethal injection at 19:00 hours Eastern time today for the 1991 slaying of an off-duty Savannah police officer, are seeking a polygraph test in a bid to persuade the Georgia Board of Pardons and Paroles to stay the execution.

Philadelphia P.D.'s Pre-Employment Polygraph Failure Rate Pegged at 63%
In his latest article, Philadelphia Inquirer columnist Daniel Rubin documents the plight of Greg Thomas, an investigator for the city court system who recently failed a Philadelphia Police Department pre-employment polygraph despite, he insists, having told the truth.

New Law Enforcement Polygraph Handbook
As the American Polygraph Association holds its annual seminar in Austin, Texas this week, one of the topics on the agenda is a program run by a consortium of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies called "Polygraph Law Enforcement Accreditation" (PLEA)....

Why Polygraphing Players Is Not Cricket
David Hopps reports for the Sydney Morning Herald that former Australia cricket team captain Steve Waugh is advocating the use of lie detectors in an attempt to root out corruption in the scandal-plagued sport.

RCMP Pre-Employment Polygraph Examinations Expose!
"A friend of mine did a pre-employment polygraph with the RCMP in the past several weeks and he/she was outraged by the whole experience. For those wondering, my friend did 'Pass', but the experience has left my friend shaken and demoralized. This not some bitter or biased story; it is factual and real. It is also detailed. The following is a composite of experiences, and key details have also been provided by one or two other applicants, all who had direct experience with the polygraph and recruiting process; therefore the information below is not from just a single source."