Polygraph examinations go sideways for one of two reasons: admissions of adjudicatively-significant information or detected use of countermeasures.
Polygraph Technical Calls and Countermeasures Decoded
“Adjudicatively-significant information” is any potentially disqualifying information under one of the 13 National Adjudicative Guidelines for Security Clearances. That theoretically means anything from a history of delinquent debts to substance abuse to parents in China – and just about anything else security officials can credibly paint as a security concern.
“Countermeasures” are actions taken by the examinee to defeat the polygraph machine’s ability to “read” his or her physiological reactions to questions asked by the examiner. Common examples include controlled breathing or taking drugs pre-exam that slow the heart rate or relax the body.
Noticeably absent from all of this are determinations that the polygraph examinee was lying. Those Maury Povich-worthy moments (“you said you didn’t cheat on your girlfriend…THAT was a lie!”), commonly referred to as “technical calls” or “reading” of the exam results, are what most people think of when they think of the polygraph.
The Polygraph is Not a Lie Detector
Ironically, however, government policy prohibits all federal agencies from relying solely on that data to deny or revoke a security clearance in the absence of adjudicatively-significant information[1]. Yes, you read that correctly: the government has to convincingly prove you’re lying based on actual evidence, not just some dubious “interpretation” of your physiology.
Many of my clients find this rather incredible. After all, isn’t the purpose of a “lie detector” to determine whether or not someone is lying?
The reality is that calling the polygraph a “lie detector” is a misnomer. As I’ve pointed out previously in this forum, the polygraph cannot determine whether an examinee is lying because there is no uniform physiological indication of lying. The real value of the polygraph for federal agencies is its utility as a scare tactic. Mere mention of the word “polygraph” coerces a lot of anxious people into divulging information they otherwise might withhold.
The policy prohibiting agencies from denying or revoking clearances based solely on polygraph technical calls is a tacit admission by the government of precisely that. If they can’t scare the information out of you or catch you cheating, the vaunted polygraph is nothing more than an expensive contraption predicated on junk science. It’s essentially the government’s equivalent of “healing crystals” or “miracle water”; if you believe this stuff, I’ve got some ocean-front property in Kansas to sell you.
The Consequence of Inconclusive Results
With all that said, the government can condition certain jobs or certain security clearances on completion of a polygraph examination to their satisfaction. So, by “failing” a polygraph or producing “inconclusive results” you might not get the job or the clearance you’re applying for – but you also won’t lose any clearance you already have or jeopardize your future prospects of obtaining clearances that don’t require a polygraph.
At least, that’s how it’s supposed to work. We’ve seen a handful of agencies over the years attempt to claim otherwise with great indignation. But the policy on this is black-and-white; their efforts all eventually fizzled after a few attempts to save face.
This article is intended as general information only and should not be construed as legal advice. Consult an attorney regarding your specific situation.
[1] Security Executive Agent Directive 4, Appendix A(1)(c)
FAQs
Polygraph examinations go sideways for one of two reasons: admissions of adjudicatively-significant information or detected use of countermeasures.
How to fail a polygraph test? ›
If the answers you give during the polygraph test differ from the information you surrendered on your application, you'll be interrogated further, and you're likely to fail.
What are the 2 factors that affects the reliability of polygraph examination? ›
The most common variables to consider when questioning the accuracy of a polygraph test include:
- mental health.
- skill level of the examiner.
- testing environment.
- physical health conditions.
- intelligence of the examinee.
- examinee's ability to self-regulate measured responses.
The negative values indicate higher reaction on the relevant questions and the positive values indicate higher response on the control questions. A grand total score of +6 and greater indicates nondeception, -6 and less deception, and anything in between is considered an inconclusive result.
What are some ways a polygraph test might be wrong? ›
Factors That Can Affect the Accuracy of Polygraph Tests
- A major factor that can alter it is your emotional state. ...
- Another aspect is the type of questions being asked. ...
- If the examiner is not properly trained, they may be more likely to misinterpret the results or make other errors that could affect accuracy.
Drugs and medical conditions may affect a polygraph test, often leading to an inconclusive result. For this reason, drug tests and a screening questionnaire are commonly given before a lie detector test. Medications that affect heart rate and blood pressure can affect polygraph results.
What disqualifies you from a polygraph? ›
Illegal drug or medication use, including steroids. Use of alcohol. Falsification or minimization in your requested information. Arrests for anything other than minor traffic violations.
What are the two types of polygraph tests? ›
A Full Scope Polygraph is a combination of both the Counterintelligence and Lifestyle polygraphs.
What are some possible sources of error in a polygraph test? ›
Polygraph errors may be caused by the examiner's failure to properly prepare the examinee for the examination, or by a misreading of the physiological data on the polygraph charts. As with any test involving humans, it's possible for an examiner to do everything correctly and still have the test result in an error.
How to pass a lie detector test? ›
Additional advice found online includes:
- Mentally alter the meaning of the questions being asked. ...
- Say only what you need to. ...
- Don't admit to anything relevant. ...
- Alter your breathing rate in between questions by changing your breathing pattern, making it fast or slow, holding your breath, or breathing shallowly.
Polygraph tests are not infallible, and there are several reasons why you may have failed even if you were telling the truth. For example, if you are particularly nervous or anxious, this can cause the machine to register false positives.
What is the key to passing a polygraph test? ›
The best way to beat a lie detector test is to stay completely calm throughout the entire exam, no matter what you're asked. Since it's difficult for most people to completely control their physiology, it may be better to swing to the other end of the spectrum and act upset for the whole test.
Why would you fail a polygraph when telling the truth? ›
For example, fuzzy memories about past events may leave you uncertain and affect reactions. As you can see, state of mind has as much impact on polygraph results as physiological factors. Even if you know you're telling the truth, psychology can unwittingly make you look deceptive.
What will fail you in a polygraph? ›
1. Adjudicatively-Significant Admissions. The first and most straightforward way an applicant can fail a polygraph examination is to make admissions either during the pre-test or the actual examination that are disqualifying.
Why might an innocent person fail a polygraph test? ›
There are some people who cannot be tested.
For example, patients undergoing chemotherapy and people who take certain medications cannot be polygraphed. Further, in many of our cases, drinking and intoxication can play a role in someone's ability to pass. Quite frankly, it is easy for innocent people to fail.
What helps pass a polygraph test? ›
The best way to beat a lie detector test is to stay completely calm throughout the entire exam, no matter what you're asked. Since it's difficult for most people to completely control their physiology, it may be better to swing to the other end of the spectrum and act upset for the whole test.
Can you fail a polygraph test by being nervous? ›
Examiners are only interested in changes to the person's normal pattern. While examiners take steps to reduce the jitters most examinees experience, there is no evidence that anxiety itself causes truthful people to fail or deceptive people to pass polygraph testing.
What is a passing score on a polygraph? ›
The subject is reported as deceptive if the total score is -6 or lower, truthful if the total is +6 or higher, and inconclusive if the total is between -6 and +6.
What not to do during a polygraph test? ›
During the Test
Lying will likely get caught by the polygraph. Answer all questions honestly and directly to achieve accurate test results. Avoid overexplaining or making excuses. Keep responses brief but with important details.
