Polygraphs? wth

[Justplainnutz]

employment opportunity but I have to take a polygraph and pass. Not worried about the questions per se but passing. I have no faith in this contraption but still have to pass or show reasons to be unsuitable. They (polygraph people) don’t seem to understand PTSD and how it effects said polygraph. I’m looking for articles, research and such to bring to my hopefully soon employer and to the polygraph. Not having much luck searching, but it could be me to. Any help would be great.

 

[ladee]

This is a tough one... I know my anxiety would shoot up and I would come across like a liar with my pants on fire... if you find anything. Please let us know... and good luck... I hope they take this into consideration but sounds like they could care less... Hope you find something to show them.

 

[scout86]

I know my anxiety would shoot up and I would come across like a liar with my pants on fire.

They're supposed to ask a lot of non-threatening questions to get a baseline. If it's normal for you to show anxiety, or you're anxious due to the test, there will be a baseline level of responses that shows that. The "do you beat your spouse?" questions are scattered through a lot of "do you like puppies?" type questions. It's not admissible in court, but it's used by a lot of places, like government jobs. I think how accurate it is is going to depend on the operator. But, I've never heard anything that suggests it's less accurate if you have PTSD. It IS less accurate if you're a psychopath or something similar, because lying tends not to bother them.

 

[Justplainnutz]

My hyper vigilance goes nutz and add my distrust of people doesn’t help. There has got to be something out there. Needle in a hay stack thing.
Polygraph sites everyone is basically suitable except Axis 1 disorders which is PTSD. , but it depends on the severity. Whatever the heck that means. I think it is just suggestive guess work. I’m sure there has been research or precedents made in this area. Either common sense (I know, really) or some article that explains why it just doesn’t work to polygraph a person with PTSD. Thank you for replying.

 

[Justplainnutz]

Mmmm do you like puppies. If puppies or dogs are a trigger then the outcome would be???? The belief that all triggers have something to do directly with the trauma is ridiculous. Fresh smell of apple pie, mmm so good, reminds me of my mom cooking when I was young, which brings up the memory of being raped at knife point when I was a ten year old boy.

Sorry to be callous but the smell of some foods will trigger me.

 

[scout86]

If puppies or dogs are a trigger then the outcome would be????

In that case, obviously, you'd show a reaction to the question. But, if the operator has an ounce of brains, they're going to know that that reaction means something unusual is going on. And it IS, because most people aren't panicked by "puppies" (you have the option to say "No, I don't like puppies" which would be true, in this case.)

How good a tool a polygraph is is really going to depend on how good the operator is. What they're looking for is a stress response that indicates a lie. They aren't necessarily looking for someone who doesn't have a stress response. Depending on the job, I guess. You might want "no stress response" in the bomb disposal business.

 

[Justplainnutz]

I hear what your saying. My belief in the polygraph is that it has only two purposes. 1. To interrogate confessions 2. To look at a stress response.

To believe they can tell a truth from a lie is believing in the tooth fairy and the Easter bunny. I would like to get the job, it would entail me working alone 90% of the time-a perfect fit for me.

The witch trials had a test. Tie rocks around the witches neck throw them in the river. If they survived they were a witch and would be executed. If they drowned-well guess they weren’t a witch. 400 years later we have a polygraph.

 

[scout86]

I would like to get the job,

I think you're best bet is to focus on this. The job sounds promising. If you wind yourself up, worrying about the test being a grand plot to get you, of some less dramatic major "bad thing", you won't help yourself. I get what you're saying, although the polygraph, even though it's not able to "detect lies" exactly, isn't the same as the methods used during the witch trials. Everyone who takes one doesn't end up guilty or dead. Some people take them, are accurately assessed, and move on to great new jobs. Some people lie through their teeth and go undetected.

For the purposes of getting the job, I don't think you do yourself any favors by thinking of this as a witch trial. Be honest. Unless it would disqualify you for the job, you might mention having some anxiety about the test, or even tell them you've been diagnosed with PTSD. That gives them an accurate explanation for any unusual results. You're probably going to run into trouble if you haven't disclosed that and then they ask "Have you ever been diagnoses with a mental illness?" If you want the job, do your best not to run down any rabbit holes thinking about the test. (And good luck with it!)