Getting A Little Personal

So, a lot of you have asked about the polygraph. I thought I would share some more details about it. Before getting the internship, I had to fill out a background packet. It was about 60 pages! It asked for all my previous addresses, all my schooling, and every personal question imaginable. My first meeting I met with a police officer who went through page by page and question by question of the background packet I filled out. He asked all the questions, so I could answer them face-to-face. That took about an hour and a half. Then I made another appointment to meet with a polygraph administrator, so I could take the polygraph test. The police officer told me to dress casually for that. He also advised me not to look up anything about polygraphs on the internet as they can lead you to getting extra nervous on test day. The internet can also “teach you tricks” on how to “pass” the test, and they end up just hurting you come test day. So, I stayed away from the internet.

The day for the test came, and I arrived in jeans and a t-shirt, and the administrator met me in the lobby and took me to a small room. He had my background packet and a desk and chair for him. And, I sat in a chair with wires hanging from it. He leafed through my packet and again asked me some questions. I am not sure why he asked those specific questions though. Then he put those finger clamps on my index fingers, there was a wire wrapped around my torso and I had something monitoring my heart. I can not remember if I had anything else attached to me, but I think that was it.

First, he gave me a test to see how I lied. I already knew I am a terrible liar and the test proved that. For the test, he gave me a stack of cards. I picked the four (the suit did not matter). He asked if I had every number, and I was to say no to each number, even the card I had. At the end, he said, “Alright give me the four. Your insides went crazy when you lied.” I thought that was funny.

Anyway, next came the real test. He asked the same series of questions four times in a different order each time and told me not to move. The questions were: are the lights on in this room, have you ever used illegal drugs, have you ever betrayed a loved one. I do not remember the rest, but there were only about three more questions. It was hard not to move when you are so nervous, but I obviously did well enough to get the internship.

Someone asked how effective did I think the polygraph test was. I did not know exactly. There are differing opinions on that. It measures your pulse and heart rate and those speed up when you are lying, so maybe if you were a good liar, it would be easier for you to pass it. However, I am not sure because it measures your insides and not your facial expressions.