Once you arrive for the appointment, the equipment and process will be reviewed. It does not hurt to familiarize yourself with the basics on your own, but avoid polygraph horror stories posted on the Internet, since these will only make you more nervous than you need to be.
To avoid worrying yourself unnecessarily, do not ask anyone who has taken a polygraph what it was like, do not spend time soul-searching before the test, and do not try to anticipate which questions will be asked. Try to avoid spending too much time reviewing anti-polygraph websites, since these websites often mix fact with hyped-up conspiracies and may cause undue panic.
Follow your usual routine as accurately as possible. Even if your routine includes activities that affect your heart rate, like drinking caffeinated coffee or going for a morning run, you should follow your routine since your body has trained itself to run on those physiological conditions. Try to get seven or eight hours of sleep the night before the test. Make sure that you are not hungry and that you have loose, comfortable clothes on.
Illness can make you feel uncomfortable, thereby skewing the results. If you take prescription medications, you should continue taking them as prescribed by your doctor before the test. Contrary to popular belief, most anti-depressant medications cannot alter a polygraph and allow you to “beat” it. You should still tell your examiner about these medications, if applicable, since they can produce abnormal results.
You must ask for clarification about questions before the test. In most cases, you will not be permitted to do so during the test. In fact, your answers will be limited to “yes” and “no” during the polygraph exam itself, so any discussion you need to have about the test questions must take place before the test itself.
With a CQT polygraph, control questions will be mixed in among the relevant questions. A control question is one that nearly everyone will need to reply “yes” to, even though many people will be tempted to reply “no. " Such questions include ones like, “Have you ever told a lie to your parents?” or “Have you ever stolen or borrowed something without permission?” With a DLT, you will be asked several questions by the examiner and directly asked to lie about those questions. In doing so, the examiner can gauge your physiological responses to lying by reviewing the questions he or she knew you lied on. For a GKT, you will be asked multiple choice questions about various facts that only you and the examiner would know. Many of these questions will be about the case. Your verbal responses will be compared to your physiological responses.
The lines on the polygraph screen will never be flat and smooth, even if you are telling the truth. Oddly enough, only the person who is nervous about every answer will appear the most truthful on a polygraph test. [2] X Research source
While people often believe that there will be “trick” questions designed to trap them into a guilty answer, the current state of ethics surrounding the administration of polygraph exams demands that the questions remain straightforward. No surprise questions will be asked, either. Listen to the entire question thoroughly and answer it precisely. Do not listen to only half the question or answer the question according to what you think it asked rather than what it actually asked.
Questioning usually takes five to ten minutes, but it may take longer depending on how often you ask to have the questions repeated, how long you take to answer the questions, and the nature or reasoning behind the test.
Think of a frightening or exciting thought when you recognize an obvious control question. You can also make your heart rate and perspiration increase by trying to solve a somewhat difficult math problem in your head. Try dividing 563 by 42, or some other similar problem. [3] X Research source
Essentially, a “lie” only counts if that lie generates a greater physiological response than that which you had while you were telling “white lies” with the control questions. As long as your physiological response to a question and answer produces a less noticeable reaction than any reaction you displayed while answering the control questions, it will probably not count against you. Maintain your breathing pattern and keep in mind that the polygraph is not infallible, and that you are in control of your own physiological response. Daydream about something soothing,[4] X Research source like cuddling under a warm blanket with a cup of hot chocolate on a cool night, or taking a relaxing shower or bath.
For instance, do not stick a thumbtack in your shoe and attempt to press down on it to spike your vitals during control questions. Oftentimes, an examiner will have you remove your shoes during the test to avoid such tricks. In fact, while physical pain will cause your vitals to spike, it is usually easier to catch than psychological stress. Biting your tongue, clenching a muscle, or other similar tactics can be caught easily if you are working with a trained polygraph professional.
The reviewer will likely ask you about your responses only if the results are inconclusive or if they suspect you of lying. In reviewing your results, the reviewer and examiner will also consider your emotional state, medical and physical condition, and the factual details of the case or circumstances calling for the test.
The American Polygraph Association Standards and Ethics Committee requires the examiner to release the official results to the examinee upon request, so even if the results are not automatically given to you within a week or two, you can call or contact your examiner to request those results.
