How not to fail a lie detector test if it is very important to you. How to pass a polygraph? Polygraph questions. How to fool a polygraph Where can you test on a polygraph

Even trained, experienced professionals can find it difficult to discern what is true and what is false in the information they are given. In such cases, a special device comes to the rescue.

To avoid giving yourself unnecessary reasons to be nervous, use our tips:

Plan your time. Typically, a polygraph test takes from 90 minutes to 3 hours.
To successfully pass polygraph testing, try to get rid of feelings of guilt and fear. You need to feel confident, despite some sins in the past (and who is sinless?).
Get a good night's sleep the night before your examination. There is no need to take tranquilizers, psychotropic drugs, or alcohol. If you have any diseases or are taking prescribed medications, inform the polygraph examiner, because in such cases, you yourself will feel uncomfortable and this may lead to a distortion of the final results. Do not try to hide any negative facts from the past, because... It’s not a fact that they will be a hindrance, for example, when starting a new job.
The questions asked on a lie detector are discussed before the test, they should be clear to you, study them, ask the polygraph examiner to give you the clarifications of the questions you need.
Give your consent to the test. No one can force you to take a polygraph. Refusal to take a lie detector test is not a reason to refuse admission to you (the exception is access to trade secrets).
During an interview, during an examination, respond to questions calmly, answer truthfully; if misunderstandings arise, explain to the polygraph examiner calmly and in detail.
Your sincerity, straightforwardness and composure will help you pass the polygraph without any problems.
If you are nervous, it’s not scary; on the contrary, the lack of emotional reactions to significant issues looks suspicious. If you don’t understand something, ask the question to be repeated.
Don't try to use any tricks to distort the result. They will be noticed immediately and the study may be rescheduled for another time, or your results will be given a more severe assessment.
After the examination, you can talk to a polygraph examiner to see if he has any reason to doubt.

Omega Consulting is a leading expert in the field of polygraph examinations. Using the most modern equipment and our own, exclusive approaches, both to organizing the test itself and to interpreting the results of psychophysiological research, our specialists always fulfill the assigned tasks. Practical techniques developed over the years give us the opportunity to draw up objective expert opinions on the issues under study, which is the key to providing the highest quality services.

What is a polygraph (lie detector) test?

A lie detector test, or, in scientific terms, psychophysiological testing/research using a polygraph, has now become quite widespread and has established itself as a service necessary in many areas of our lives and business sectors. Wherever the human factor plays a decisive role, there is a need to obtain accurate information about the performers/participants in order to prevent, prevent, and, if necessary, investigate various unwanted incidents, and the polygraph (lie detector) test service allows this to be fully accomplished.

You already know, if not, then we strongly advise you to read it on our website. Accordingly, we will not consider psychophysiological aspects; we will simply note that today this is the most reliable way to determine whether a person is telling the truth or lying.

Where can I take a polygraph/lie detector test?

Polygraph testing services are provided by specialized organizations that have the necessary equipment and a staff of professional, experienced specialists. As a rule, these are large structures, various lie detection centers, detective agencies, etc., staffed not only with the necessary specialists, but also with the necessary equipment, in the required quantity, because in large enterprises the number of employees is in the hundreds and thousands. Of course, there are also talented individuals, private specialists who provide high-quality polygraph testing services. If you decide to contact them, carefully study their track record, education, work experience, get confirmation of the success and effectiveness of the inspections carried out - this will help weed out low-quality specialists.

In what situations is it legal to use a polygraph and in what cases is it not, and how can you pass testing without problems at the police station or during employment? We tell you in detail about everything you need to know about the lie detector.

Within the law

When you have to think about how to pass a polygraph, another question automatically appears: “Is such a procedure legal?”

The use of a lie detector is allowed:

when carrying out detective activities and interrogating witnesses (Article 7-8 of Federal Law No. 144 “On operational investigative activities”);
to check employees working officially or freelance in state security agencies;
for interviewing military and state security employees (Article 18 of Federal Law-57 “On State Security”).

The official use of this equipment was permitted on the territory of Russia in relation to officials in 1993 after the release of a special Instruction of the Ministry of State Security, and when interviewing civilians - after the publication of Order No. 437 of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of December 28, 1994.

Regulatory legal acts establish Some conditions that must be met before using a lie detector:

opening of a criminal case (or presence of signs of a criminal offense);
written consent of the interrogated;
the device must have a safety certificate that confirms that no harm will be caused to humans during testing.

Important! The information obtained using a polygraph does not become irrefutable evidence of guilt or innocence, but is only an auxiliary tool for further investigation.

During psychophysical testing:

obtain information that helps advance the investigation;
evaluate the reliability of existing information;
identify potential or actual participants in the crime;
narrow the circle of suspects.

Questioning using a lie detector is allowed not only for criminal offenses, but also for administrative ones, including during corporate internal audits.

Important! For any type of inspection, a citizen has the right to find out the test results, and denying this desire is contrary to the law.

Is it possible to refuse?

Does an employer have the right to force you to take a polygraph and can the police insist on checking? No, this procedure is absolutely voluntary, and the refusal:

does not confirm that a person is involved in a crime;
does not confirm that the person who refused is hiding something;
does not restrict civil rights in any way.

That is, those who have not passed the polygraph at the Ministry of Internal Affairs or at work should not worry and think about what to do next. Testing:

is only an additional tool for finding out the truth;
cannot be the basis for arrest, charges or dismissal;
can be challenged in court if the procedure is violated, including due to forced testing of someone who is prohibited from being questioned (more on this below).

Moreover, all questions that are planned to be asked are voiced in advance, and their meaning should not cause a feeling of humiliation or offend the person being interrogated. If any wording seems inappropriate, you also have the right to refuse.

On a note! In order to further exclude accusations of lies and controversial situations, as well as to have material evidence of one’s innocence in court, it is allowed to conduct independent audio or video recording.

Is it legal to take a polygraph at work? If we are talking about a performance audit, then quite, but the results cannot be the only evidence of guilt for dismissal or disciplinary action.

A direct violation of the law would be the fact of forced testing in exchange for employment. If during an interview the personnel officer takes out a polygraph, you don’t need to think about how to pass the job test in such a way as to show yourself in the best light. You can simply refuse by referring to the Labor Code and Articles 3, 8, 9 and 64. This rule does not apply to those workers who fall under the Federal Law “On State Security” (Article 18).

Contraindications

In addition to the reluctance of the suspect himself to “tell the truth and only the truth” and violation of the testing procedure (written consent was not received, questions were not voiced), there are direct indications of who should not take a polygraph.

All taboos are associated either with strong anxiety that arises during testing, which negatively affects health and can provoke relapses in chronic pathologies, or with the inadequacy of the interviewee.

First of all, we are talking about people who are severely exhausted - physically or mentally. For example, you cannot interview someone after a week-long hunger strike or someone who suffers from insomnia and has not slept for several days. It is prohibited to test minors, as well as at such an advanced age, when brain dysfunction appears and a person is unable to absolutely soberly assess what is happening, for example, with senile insanity.

Secondly, it is worth knowing What diseases should you not undergo a polygraph for?

mental disorders of all types at any stage of treatment;
chronic pathologies of the respiratory system, for example, tuberculosis, severe forms of asthma;
problems with the cardiovascular system, as well as previous strokes and heart attacks;
epilepsy;
severe pain of any etiology;
pronounced symptoms of colds: cough, fever, respiratory congestion, chills, redness of the skin.

It is impossible to test not only chronic alcoholics and drug addicts, but also people who drank alcohol the day before, took psychotropic substances or potent medications.

Can pregnant women undergo a polygraph? If it is voluntary, then it is possible, but the contraindications are:

severe pregnancy with complications that threaten the health of the mother or child;
severe toxicosis;
second and third trimester.

Third, a ban is also imposed in a situation where the polygraph examiner:

depends in some way on the respondent, for example, at work;
indirectly or directly interested in a particular result of the inspection;
relative, close friend, good acquaintance of the person being tested.

On the Internet you can find a lot of advice from “experienced” people on how to pass a polygraph if you have something to hide. You should definitely not try to deceive the device by artificially calming and stabilizing the nervous system, for example, with the help of medications. An experienced polygraph examiner will immediately identify an unnatural reaction and cancel the results.

To understand how to pass a polygraph without problems at the Ministry of Internal Affairs or during an interview, you should know some nuances. The first few questions are called "calibration" questions. They usually concern general things, and are asked to customize the equipment for a specific person.

It is a mistake to believe that the main task is to keep emotions under control and not give yourself away when asked an awkward question. On the contrary, it is necessary to demonstrate a natural reaction, and in such a way that the expert does not become suspicious.

What do seasoned “deceivers” advise? Imitate emotions: get excited when asked simple questions and calm down when asked provocative ones. They offer to deceive the lie detector in various ways:

put a button in your shoe and step on it when asked a simple question: pain will cause inappropriate emotions and confuse the device;
do not sleep at night, drink alcohol or valerian, but if this is revealed, the test will be rejected;
drink more water, juice, tea, lemonade so that the desire to go to the toilet dominates all others;
turn on artistry and believe your own lies;
control physiology: accelerate pressure (tension/relaxation of the sphincter muscles, biting the tip of the tongue), breathe evenly (if held, the heart will begin to accelerate).

When learning how to pass a polygraph, you should listen to the advice of professional polygraph examiners:

don’t get hung up on what’s happening and calm down;
relax physically - this will be especially easy to do if you are not to blame;
when answering a question, do not remember the past, but focus exclusively on the present;
answer honestly;
remove emotionality and add as much indifference as possible;
slightly abstract, do not analyze the questions, but say the first thing that comes to mind.

Polygraph examiners are convinced that only those who have thoroughly studied its structure and have impeccable control of their own psyche can deceive the machine. And there are only a few of them. So is it worth resorting to such tricks if everyone has a legal right to refuse?

A polygraph (another name is a lie detector) is used in forensic science to determine the guilt of a suspect. Also, when applying for employment in some companies, job seekers will undergo a polygraph test. Thanks to this, management receives information about whether potential employees have a tendency, for example, to theft, etc.

It should be immediately noted that polygraph testing of people is allowed only to those who have completed special courses and received a certificate of the required type.

Lie detector device

Before agreeing to take a polygraph test, you should inquire about its structure and operating principle. A lie detector is a sensor-type device that, using special sensors, records physiological indicators of a person - blood pressure, heartbeat, muscle tone, blink rate, sweating, etc.

The sensors are connected via wires to a computer, on the monitor of which you can see the test results in the form of various graphs.

It should be noted that attempts to “falsify” the survey results have always been made. The question of how to fool a polygraph has been around for as long as the lie detector itself.

What testing looks like

Sensors are attached to the thing being tested on all sides. And in addition, they sit you down on another sensor and ask you to remain motionless. The fact is that reactions to provocative questions even include involuntary muscle contractions.

Before the procedure begins, the subject must inform the examiner if he has any concerns or needs to go to the toilet. The comfortable state of the person being tested is a prerequisite for such a test, otherwise the results will be far from objective.

Also, at the beginning of the process, the device reads the initial parameters from the person. This is done because many people are concerned about the fact of verification, and not about hypothetical guilt. An honest and decent person may well turn out to be neurotic or simply overly impressionable. That is why the indicators obtained during the audit must be compared with the initial ones.

Is this test really that serious?

In principle, it is quite possible to fool a lie detector. After all, a polygraph test is carried out by a program based on measurements of the physical indicators of your body: pulse rate, breathing, blood pressure, etc. And if you remain calm when answering the questions you are asked, then changes in state will not be perceived by the device.

At first glance, this is the whole secret of how to deceive a polygraph. But know that the program will also take into account your efforts to remain calm and control your own reactions. And, in turn, he will use a “distracting maneuver” - at first (about twenty minutes) you will be asked the simplest questions in order to lull your vigilance and “adjust” the device specifically for you.

What can affect the result

The main factor is the correct internal state of the subject. How to pass a polygraph according to all the rules? The person being tested must sit completely static; he is prohibited from moving his arms, legs, eyes, head, tensing any muscles, or even swallowing saliva. These actions can cause an involuntary physiological reaction, recorded by a polygraph and affecting the result.

So, is it possible to pass a polygraph test with the result you want? Or, to put it more simply, can the device be fooled?

If a person is accused of a serious crime, then sometimes a lie detector may be the only chance to prove his own innocence. Therefore, it is useful to have an idea of how to pass a polygraph at the Ministry of Internal Affairs.

How it's done

First of all, on the eve of testing, be sure to get a good night's sleep. Answers to polygraph questions should be given as truthfully as possible; in case of any misunderstandings, everything should be explained in detailed detail as calmly as possible.

If your biography contains any violations or other negative aspects, you should not remain silent about them. It is much wiser to immediately openly talk about them. There is no point in being nervous for a law-abiding citizen.

How to pass a polygraph to your advantage

Experts working with the device assure that this is not easy to do. Only a person who has thoroughly studied the principle of its operation and has excellent self-control can outwit a lie detector.

At first glance, maintaining external equanimity is not such a difficult task. But the detector captures and records the parameters of the internal state! And it is very, very difficult to control them. If a person tells a lie in response to a question, his body reacts to the lie involuntarily, regardless of the desire to hide the truth. The device will only be able to “swallow” an obvious lie when the subject either sincerely believes what he is saying, or gives an answer “automatically” - i.e. without analyzing your own words.

Don’t get hung up on the significance of what’s happening and don’t immediately prepare for the worst. To successfully pass the test, you should simply relax, especially if you are not guilty of anything. In this case, the question of how to pass a polygraph simply should not bother you.

With this approach, your anxiety will subside, you will not begin to painfully go through all your past sins. Let's say they often ask whether there have been episodes of theft in your life. An honest and decent person, who is fundamentally incapable of appropriating someone else’s property, suddenly remembers a trivial childhood episode - a toy taken without permission from kindergarten.

This memory confuses him, internal tension is immediately recorded by the device, and an honest answer “No” will be recorded as a lie. That is why, during testing, do not try to go through past memories and do not delve deeply into the questions asked. Answer honestly, but at the same time slightly “mechanical” and rather indifferent.

How to achieve automation

As already mentioned, a detached, calm state will help to deceive the polygraph - when a person does not try to form mental images of life situations in his mind. But it’s not easy enough to completely detach yourself and give negative and positive answers in a timely manner, alternating them correctly. Only a few truly succeed in this.

How to achieve the desired state? Try to mentally switch to any other problem that is relevant to you. In this way, you seem to isolate yourself from the questions being asked; accordingly, you do not analyze them and do not imagine images of situations that are critical for you.

From the history of the lie detector

The first version of the polygraph was invented and used in 1895 by Italian psychiatrist Cesare Lombroso. He called the device a hydrosphygometer.

But a real lie detector capable of assisting in the investigation of crimes appeared only in 1921. It was invented by police officer John Larsen.

The polygraph turned out to be able to record the most insignificant changes in the psychophysical state of the subject, thanks to which the specialist became clear about the degree of truthfulness of his answers. This principle formed the basis for the use of a lie detector for a long time and continues to this day.

For whom testing is contraindicated?

Women who are pregnant have the right to refuse the test. In addition, it is prohibited to test adolescents who have not reached the age of majority. If necessary, they can undergo testing with the written permission of the parents (as well as persons guarding the child) or in their presence.

An important point: passing a polygraph test is possible only with the written consent of the subject - you must know this in order to prevent violation of your rights.

Now you know how to pass a polygraph competently. We hope this information will help you avoid mistakes and defend your own interests if necessary.

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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