Tips on how to pass a polygraph without problems. What is a lie detector: polygraph - how to pass it. Who is not recommended to undergo polygraph testing?

A “lie detector” is a device that allows you to calculate whether a person is telling the truth when answering questions. The use of a polygraph when applying for a job is not that uncommon, although only companies with a substantial budget can resort to expensive research. Managers believe that the device will allow them to interview candidates as efficiently as possible. You can find out what questions to expect during a polygraph test in the article.

In this article we will figure out whether polygraph testing is really an accurate study or whether a smart machine can be deceived.

How the polygraph works and works

A “lie detector” is a technical device that looks like a computer. It is connected to sensors attached to the human body. The operation of the device is based on monitoring the physiological reactions of the subject answering questions. The device responds to indicators such as:

arterial pressure,
pulse,
sweating,
bursts of brain activity
breathing rate.

A standard polygraph test looks like a psychophysiological examination, in which the results are simultaneously assessed by a person and a technical device. The subject's lie is indicated by a change in physiological parameters, which is recorded by the device in the form of a graph. Sharp jumps in the curve allow us to conclude that the subject is being somewhat disingenuous when answering the polygraph examiner.

Lie detector test scenario

Before the test begins, the specialist explains to the person being interviewed how to respond and behave during the test. Before moving on to the main test, the device is adjusted to the individual characteristics of the person being tested. The polygraph procedure begins with simple questions that, as a rule, relate to biography and personal data. The specialist may ask for negative or positive answers to gauge the reaction.

After setting up the polygraph, the turn comes to the main test for which the procedure was started.

Among those that interest the employer, there are both quite traditional and very tricky ones. Undoubtedly, the future leader is interested in whether the candidate has bad habits, how he gets along with the law, and how morally stable he is. Many managers, fearing the disclosure of confidential information, are interested in whether the future employee has connections with competing organizations.

To check the veracity of the answers, the specialist uses additional control questions.

The polygraph examiner will not share the information received with the subject. Transcription of data and comments on answers are intended for the employer. However, neither one nor the other has the right to disclose information obtained using a polygraph, according to the law on the protection of privacy.

Who should not take a polygraph?

Polygraph testing is regarded as a significant stress factor. Therefore, such a test cannot be carried out if the subject:

has diseases associated with increased nervous excitability;
is in a state of pregnancy;
has not reached the age of majority;
is intoxicated or under the influence of drugs, or is too tired.

A polygraph examiner can remove a candidate from testing due to a common cold, because during illness a person’s reactions are inhibited. In addition, body movement when coughing or sneezing will interfere with the correct operation of the device. The specialist may interrupt the psychophysiological examination after the testing has begun, noticing that the person is experiencing increased anxiety.

The candidate himself has the right to refuse to take a lie detector test when applying for a job.. Such an action should not be regarded negatively and should not affect the results of assessing the professional qualities of the applicant. If testing is carried out to clarify an ambiguous situation, the employer may offer an alternative to the polygraph: an interview with a profiler. A specialist of this kind deciphers non-verbal signals, that is, facial expressions, intonation, answering questions. Therefore, an unreasonable refusal to take a polygraph will not give anything, it will only cause unnecessary suspicion.

How to successfully pass a lie detector test

Most people are noticeably nervous before this kind of test, even if they have absolutely nothing to hide. Therefore, the first, perhaps the most important advice is act calm. If you know in advance that the organization uses a polygraph when hiring employees, try to have a good rest before, refuse alcoholic beverages, stimulants or sedatives the day before and on the day of the test. To successfully pass the test, you need to follow the polygraph examiner’s instructions, sit almost motionless, and clearly answer the person asking in monosyllables.

Before testing, take a comfortable position and check whether the sensors attached to your body are in the way. Let us know in advance if anything makes you uncomfortable.

Try not to think too long about the answer, but take your time and understand the meaning of the question being asked. Every person has small sins that we have long forgotten about. Therefore, do not delve into your memory, otherwise the subconscious may give a negative reaction due to the events of days long past.

Among the tips on how to successfully pass a polygraph test, there are those that relate directly to communication with a specialist. The human factor cannot be ignored, because it is the polygraph examiner who deciphers the answers, and not the device itself.

Be kind, don't fuss, don't ask too much. Answer only “yes” or “no”, without unnecessary explanations or emotional outbursts. The questions may be unpleasant, but refusing to answer will only prolong the test time, since the polygraph examiner will ask them in a different wording.

How to fool a polygraph

Experienced people assure that there is nothing difficult about fooling a lie detector. It is more difficult to do the same with an experienced specialist, who has to deal with similar attempts quite often. An unlucky liar can be betrayed by facial expressions, gestures, intonation, and demeanor. There are many ways to deceive a polygraph, but this will require some skills in controlling psychophysiological reactions, as well as your own body, or innate acting abilities.

When setting up the detector, the specialist evaluates how the subject’s body reacts to different answer options. If these indicators are non-standard from the very beginning, subsequent surges will be perceived as the norm. A similar reaction can be caused by:

tension in the legs and knees (this increases blood pressure);
physiological discomfort associated with bladder overflow;
emotional memories;
painful sensations,
taking stimulant or sedative medications;
alcohol;
state of extreme fatigue.

If you wish, you can use any of these methods, the main thing is not to overdo it. It is unlikely that a manager will be tempted by an employee who shows up for an interview smelling of alcohol or fumes. And a person who thinks for a long time about the simplest questions can hardly be called a desirable candidate.

As we have already said, the polygraph records only the body’s reaction when answering. That's why if a person is sincerely convinced of what he is saying, the detector will consider his words to be true.

Helps manage physiological processes simple tricks. To reduce sweating on your palms, wipe them with a mixture of boric and salicylic acid or a decoction of oak bark. Practice breathing rhythmically, calmly, evenly in advance. You can count to yourself in descending order, this will become an additional distraction. Concentrate your thoughts on pleasant memories, recalling small details of a successful or pleasant vacation.

Many people question the reliability of the results obtained using a polygraph, considering such a procedure to be a common deception in order to get money. But if an employer resorts to such research, it means that he is confident in its effectiveness. It is useless to challenge his opinion or try to convince him. However, it is worth remembering that the answers received during testing cannot serve as a reason for dismissal. If you are presented with a similar argument, feel free to contact the labor inspectorate or file a claim in court.

In March of this year, I was looking for a job, and one company offered me a vacancy. But one of the conditions for employment is to pass a lie detector interview. I was told that the questions would only relate to work activities.

This confused me, but I agreed for the sake of the experiment. I came to a private office where such checks are carried out. The man conducting this check asked rather personal questions: about my parents, where I live, whether I use drugs (and this question was repeated several times). There were other questions that I would not want to answer to a stranger. But the man said: these questions are necessary to recognize lies.

Are such lie detector tests of candidates legal? Should the person conducting such a check sign documents on non-disclosure of personal data?

I passed the test and refused the job, but the residue remained.

As experience shows, if a candidate has received a referral for a polygraph, this means that he has passed most of the test successfully.

Dmitry Sergeev

security specialist

A polygraph test is a complex, time-consuming and expensive procedure. In a private office it costs from 2 to 10 thousand rubles. It is unlikely that a potential employer will shell out such a sum for the first candidate they come across. There are many other ways to refuse a job. I think the company was very interested in hiring you.

Is it legal to use a polygraph during hiring?

Yes, the Labor Code allows obtaining personal data of an employee from the employee himself with his written consent. A polygraph examiner asks you questions, you answer them, then he writes a conclusion, which he passes on to the employer.

In order for everything to be legal, before starting a psychophysiological study (that is what this event is officially called), the candidate for a vacancy must give written consent. He must be told that he can refuse to undergo the examination at any time. However, the candidate is not required to explain the reasons for the refusal.

The employer is responsible for protecting the candidate's personal data. All expenses that may arise in this case are also borne by the employer.

If any information was disclosed and you suffered damage, you have the right to demand compensation from the employer as the initiator of the inspection.

What is a polygraph?

This is a complex device that records breathing parameters, cardiovascular activity, and electrical resistance of the skin during a conversation. Then a polygraph examiner analyzes these parameters and draws conclusions: whether the person was involved or not involved in this or that event.

Photo of the polygraph from the manufacturer's website. 6 sensors recording pressure, pulse, heart rate and other parameters are connected to the control unit. The control unit is connected to the computer. Such a device costs 270 thousand rubles

Often in films they show the work of a polygraph examiner approximately as follows: they connect sensors to a person, ask him several questions, then the polygraph examiner approaches the police and says - yes, he killed, the body is buried three steps from the old oak tree, on the north side, a shovel with fingerprints and a pistol nearby in the bushes. The crime has been solved. The viewer gets the impression that the polygraph examiner reads a person’s thoughts through these sensors and finds out who he sleeps with, what he eats, who he killed, and what type of drugs he uses.

In reality, everything is not so simple.

Psychophysiological studies, which include polygraph studies, are not in themselves evidence of the commission of any action. The criminal procedure and labor codes do not provide for the use of a polygraph as a method of evidence.

This means that even if a polygraph shows your involvement, for example, in serial murders, no charges can be brought against you based on this.

In real life, as a rule, a polygraph examiner is asked several general questions. Usually no more than 2-3. All questions must be formulated in such a way that they can only be answered “Yes” or “No”.

Questions that require a detailed answer are not suitable. For example, you cannot ask why you left your previous job.

Before testing begins, the specialist must discuss all issues with the subject. If you feel that a question is unacceptable or you simply don’t want to answer it, just say so and the question will be removed.

How the research is carried out

Research questions are divided into two groups. The first is, in fact, issues that are important to the employer (or other customer). The second is control questions.

For example, you are asked if you have ever crossed the street when a red light is on. You answer: “No, never.” Such a response is highly likely to be assessed as false; the device records your reaction to the lie - changes in blood pressure and pulse. It is assumed that with subsequent false responses the body will show the same reaction. But perhaps you have never actually broken a traffic law. Therefore, there will not be just one such question, there will be many of them. They will be repeated, among them there will be questions that are really of interest to the employer. Answers to security questions will not be included in the conclusion.

What will happen in prison

In conclusion, the polygraph examiner will not say unequivocally: “This person is a drug addict.” He will write: “There is a possibility that this person is using drugs.” The polygraph examiner's report is usually small in volume. It always contains wording approximately as follows: “The survey results are of indicative value, are probabilistic in nature and cannot be used as evidence in court.”

Translated from Russian into human, this means: “We don’t know exactly, but it’s possible that it was something like this. Or maybe differently. Don’t go to court with this paper - they’ll laugh at you.”

What are additional explanations?

On some issues, the specialist may ask for additional clarification during the inspection.

Let me give you an example. In 2000, I took a polygraph test. I was asked standard questions about connections with criminals, drug addicts, and asked if I had received bribes. When asked if I communicate with drug addicts, I honestly answered that I do. The polygraph examiner asked for additional clarification. I explained that during my youth in the city where I lived, cannabis grew under the windows of houses, and many of my friends used it. It was impossible to cut off everyday contacts with them. The answer satisfied the specialist, the conclusion was positive.

The most important thing to know about any polygraph test is that its results cannot be evidence of anything, even in a criminal trial. This information is usually taken into account as additional. In the Ministry of Internal Affairs, for example, a lie detector is most often used not against criminals, but against candidates for service. They also test existing employees when they want to promote them.

Is it possible to fool a polygraph?

Yes, you can. An example is Gary Leon Ridgway, a famous American serial killer. He committed his first murders in the early eighties and came to the attention of the police, but suspicions were removed from him when he successfully passed a polygraph test. At that time, it was believed that the lie detector was not mistaken.

Ridgway's involvement in the crimes was proven only in 1997 as a result of DNA analysis.

There are instructions on the Internet on how to fool a lie detector. I don’t presume to judge their effectiveness. Ridgway could not have access to them and did not receive special training to mislead the polygraph examiner. According to publicly available data, he was one of the worst students at school: apparently, high intelligence was not needed to deceive specialists.

My conclusions are as follows

The use of a polygraph when applying for a job does not violate the requirements of labor legislation.
You can refuse to undergo the examination at any time; you do not need to explain the reasons for your refusal.
There is no penalty for refusal.
The polygraph does not guarantee the accuracy of the result.
There is no need to be afraid of such research.

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Even if you think that a lie detector test is not for you, perhaps someday you will have to take one too. This type of testing is often used when hiring for large corporations, checking full-time employees, or when checking information when approving a loan or insurance. How to go through it with dignity and keep your secrets to yourself, you will learn from this article.

website I decided to figure out whether the internal attitude affects the success of passing the test and whether it is possible to prepare your psyche correctly. And at the end of the article there is a bonus: in what cases can you refuse testing with a clear conscience.

How does a polygraph work?

The polygraph, of course, does not track lies by themselves. It records the physiological changes that occur in the body when a person lies: pulse, sweating, breathing rhythm, blood pressure.

State-of-the-art detectors can monitor up to 50 types of different reactions, for example, the expansion of capillaries - an instant reflex to a shocking question. But still, most companies use standard reaction studies.

Experts say that interpreting results is more of an art than a science, since these results are highly dependent on the qualifications and experience of the polygraph examiner. He must select questions for each individual, take into account all the differences in physiology between different people and be able to interpret them correctly.

6 ways to prepare your psyche

1. Be physically prepared

Take care of yourself the day before the test. You must:

get some sleep;
not to be hungry or overeat;
feel comfortable in your clothes.

Stick to your normal routine so that your body does not feel any changes and your heart rate does not go astray. Do you usually run in the morning? Don't give up running. Do you always drink coffee? Drink today too!

2. Give yourself permission to be nervous.

It's normal to be nervous. Moreover, it will help you pass the test successfully. Those who are nervous about every answer are statistically the most accurate.

If you feel that your results may be misinterpreted due to nerves, then the following technique will do.

To test your basic physiological responses, you will be specifically asked to lie using test questions. They are fairly easy to distinguish from important ones because they are general rather than specific.

And here, be careful. If you start to get nervous about answering everything control questions, then when answering important questions, your reactions will be regarded by the polygraph as “truth”, especially if you deliberately try to remain calm.

Example of a security question: "Have you ever stolen?"
Example of an important question: “Did you steal anything from your last job?”

You can make yourself nervous by thinking about something unpleasant, scary, or trying to solve a problem in your mind that is difficult for you.

3. Try not to lie about small things.

If you have nothing to be ashamed of or hide, try to answer all questions truthfully. The more often you tell the truth, the more accurate the results will be. People often tend to lie about small things, and they are confident that they will be asked trap questions when taking the test.

But experts assure that the questions are asked as simple as possible, in accordance with the very ethics of testing, and there should be no surprises. Moreover, you will know them in advance even before testing. This is done in order to eliminate the reaction to novelty.

4. Take your time

Depending on the specific test, each question can be asked 3 to 6 times. Therefore, there is no need to rush to answer; the very feeling of haste can distort the results.

Listen to the question to the end, realize whether you really understand what is being asked, tune in - and only then answer.

By hesitating a little to answer, you give yourself the opportunity to determine what kind of question you are being asked: irrelevant ( "What is your name?"), control ( "Have you ever lied for profit?") or important ( “Did you falsify documents at your last job?”).

5. Imagine something pleasant

This method is considered successful, but is suitable only for those who really know how to control themselves. Because it is easier to be nervous and cause negative reactions than positive ones.

When thinking about the answer to a question and realizing that you need to tell a lie, imagine something as pleasant as possible for you. Or be relaxed throughout the test. Create in your imagination some carefree little world that will help you stay calm: let these be the most pleasant dreams, and then the body’s reaction will be ideal!

Before the lie detector test itself, no matter what topic it is conducted on, the customer must personally meet with a polygraph examiner. The following questions will be discussed in this conversation:

The feasibility of conducting a survey using a polygraph directly in this case.
Goals set for the polygraph examiner.
The ability to conduct a lie detector test using a method that gives the most reliable result, close to 100%. Namely, is there such information that is known only to the guilty person and the initiator of the polygraph test. For example, the exact amount of money stolen, the denomination of the bills in which it was stored, where (in what) exactly the stolen property was stored, and so on. In any case, this information must be known to the guilty person and not available to other persons who will undergo a lie detector test.
Time and place of the polygraph test. The feasibility and possibility of conducting a lie detector survey on your territory is clarified. We remind you that for a successful polygraph test you need not only a separate room, but also a comfortable table, chair, 220 V socket. A special chair for the person being interviewed, without which it is impossible to conduct a normal lie detector test, as well as the device itself, will be brought by the polygraph examiner. There should be no maps, mirrors, graphs, photographs, etc. on the walls of the room. The room should have good sound insulation; of course, there should be no construction site or busy highway outside the windows. Sounds from neighboring rooms, telephone calls, and so on are unacceptable. As practice shows, people completely ignore the inscriptions on the signs: DO NOT MAKE ANY NOISE, DO NOT ENTER. Therefore, it is almost impossible to find such a room. We carry out inspections at the customer's premises only as a last resort!
The health status of the interviewed persons is determined and the possibility of conducting polygraph testing with them is determined.
The initiator of a lie detector test must provide the most complete information about each person who is planned to be tested with a polygraph, as well as about the event that is the reason for this test. It may be necessary to provide the polygraph examiner with photographs of the crime scene or evidence.
An agreement is signed.
Issues submitted for review are discussed with the initiator.
A polygraph examiner gives instructions on how to prepare people for an upcoming lie detector test. The order of passing the polygraph is established, who should go first for the test, and so on.
The polygraph examiner prepares questionnaires separately for each person interviewed.

The time of such a preliminary meeting between the customer and the polygraph examiner DOES NOT COUNT as the time of polygraph testing! The actual verification of each person takes approximately 3-4 hours.

Stages of the polygraph testing itself:

Before starting, it is important to invite the person being interviewed to go to the toilet (3-5 minutes). Of course, the polygraph examiner will allow you to go to the toilet during the testing process, but for this you will need to remove the sensors, and after visiting the restroom you will need to take the adjustment-stimulation test again, which, of course, will significantly increase the testing time. In addition, an attempt to restrain natural physiological processes may negatively affect the test results - not in favor of the respondent.
It is important to ask the interviewee to wash their hands with soap to remove dirt and natural oils (1-2 minutes).
The respondent reads and fills out a form for voluntary consent to undergo a survey using a polygraph, which also states contraindications that exclude the possibility of using a lie detector (10–15 minutes).
A pre-test conversation is conducted, during which the respondent develops appropriate motivation for the event and studies the characteristics of his personality and intelligence. It is determined in what conceptual language the interviewee speaks on topics directly related to the event under investigation. The emotional state is assessed, and some facts and life events of the interviewees that are of interest from the point of view of the upcoming audit are clarified.
The subject is explained how to behave during a polygraph test (10–15 minutes).
All issues are discussed until they are fully understood. If the situation requires it, terminology is used that is as understandable as possible for the subject (20–30 minutes).
A special chair is set up on which the interviewee sits (1 minute).
Sensors are put on the respondent (3-4 minutes).
It doesn’t matter what topic the test will be on, it is necessary to conduct attunement-stimulating tests in any case (20-25 minutes). Adjustment-stimulating tests solve a number of problems:
1. Give the person being interviewed the opportunity to get used to the sensors and the testing procedure itself.
2. With their help, the polygraph examiner adjusts the polygraph directly to the person being interviewed.
3. Thanks to them, it becomes clear whether the person being interviewed used a pharmacological method of counteracting the polygraph (using various types of sedatives and other drugs).
4. Using NST, a symptom complex is identified (how a given organism reacts to a lie, which sensors are the most informative, and so on).
Each "work test" contains an average of 12 questions, each of which takes at least 25 seconds to process - that's 5 minutes. Plus, it is necessary to record the “initial background” at the beginning and at the end, in which the person sits silently in a chair - this is another 1 minute. Also, before each test, the cuff responsible for the cardiac signal is inflated from 50 mmHg to 135 mmHg. That's another 10 seconds. Since when the cuff is inflated, the arm is compressed, causing slight discomfort, the person being interviewed needs time to adapt, this takes another 10-20 seconds. After this, the sensor readings are centered and the test itself begins. At the end of each test, the cardiac cuff is deflated to allow the arm to rest. In total, a minimum of 6 minutes is spent on each test.
Between tests there are breaks of 5–10 minutes, during which time the polygraph examiner carries out an ongoing qualitative assessment of the polygrams and, if necessary, makes adjustments to the further course of the test.
Each test is run at least 3 times.
A post-test conversation is conducted, during which the interviewee is given the opportunity to explain what may be associated with reactions to certain questions. In some cases, it is possible to obtain voluntary confessions.
The polygraph examiner calculates the polygrams received during testing and fills out the necessary documents (the time spent calculating is not counted as testing time).

In order to make a decision on one fact, for example, whether a person stole money or not, a minimum of 8 tests are needed (that’s about 70 questions, including attunement-stimulating questions), which takes an average of 3 hours, no less. In some cases, a lie detector test on one person can last 5 hours. Note: The test can take a shorter duration only if all persons are tested on the same topic and a general pre-test conversation has been conducted with them in advance.

There are a number of cases in which you may be subjected to a polygraph or lie detector examination. These tests can bring a lot of anxiety, especially since it is too common for innocent people to be acquitted without reason, as a result of job failure or false criminal charges.

Why? Because polygraphs are far from perfect. In fact, many experts consider them a farce, and almost all scientists who have studied them understand that polygraphs are extremely limited. Fortunately, this is the reason why they are easy to deceive.

10. Refuse

Refuse to take a lie detector test if possible. In the US, private sector employers may not terminate employment or take other similar negative actions based solely on a polygraph refusal. If a polygraph is part of a criminal investigation, you have the right to refuse, and you should refuse, even if you are innocent, due to the possibility of a “false positive.”

9. Study!

Learn everything about the polygraph before you sit down. The most important thing to know is that printing is not an exact science. In fact, to the extent that it is a science at all, it is in its infancy, and sometimes often produces incorrect results.

8. Think ahead

Find out what the tester is looking for. A polygraph is administered to help find out specific information. Prepare in advance by thinking about what exactly they are looking for that are things you may not know. The polygraph will ask you many uncomfortable questions, but only a few of them are important.

Take a lie detector test someday. Very often, when a person is hired, they use a lie detector. A simple interview is significantly different from a lie detector. He takes into account every movement, especially if there is an emotional leap.

6. Define issues

Determine the types of questions you will be asked. There are three main types of questions. You will be asked specific, blank questions and quizzes. Unnecessary questions are those that are obvious, such as "What is your name" or "Have you ever eaten pasta?" Relevant questions are important, such as "Did you leak that note to the media?", "Have you ever stolen money from an employer?", or "Have you ever sold drugs?" Control questions are those where your reaction to the questions will be taken into account.

5. Stick to the topic

The job of the polygraph is to obtain confessions. The entire examination is an elaborate ruse to deceive you during confession. Regardless of what the lines on the graph show, nothing is more accurate or dangerous than your confessions. The polygrapher will likely try to convince you that he or she can "see" lies in your speech, even if there is nothing abnormal. Don't fall for it.

4. Basic information only

Let's just say what you need. "Yes" or "No" are the answers you must answer. Resist the temptation to explain your answers or go into detail, although the polygrapher may try to force you to do so. Be polite, but don't provide more information than necessary. Answer the questions firmly, seriously, and without hesitation. This is not the time to joke or try to be crafty

3. I don’t know anything AT ALL!

Hide your knowledge of printing. Don't disclose that you have done extensive research prior to this study, as if you don't know much about lie detector tests. The polygrapher may try to trick you by mentioning some technical terms and abbreviations, such as, "Your test passed NDI." "NDI" means "no deception indicated," you have to act like you have no idea what that means.

2. Managing your blood pressure

Skip the reading machine from test questions by changing your blood pressure and heart rate.

1. Handle after the event

After you are disconnected from the machine, the polygrapher may leave you in the room for a while and come back. The polygrapher can deceive you, as if you know something. It's a trick. Remain calm and repeat your refusal firmly but politely.