How do you trick a polygraph?

Question

I have to take one tomorrow, how do you beat a polygraph? hehehe. I didn't break any laws, I just find that kinda stuff interesting and when they are done testing me I want to see if they'll let me fool around with it.

Answer 1

Don't. The days of tricking polygraphs are GONE!

They used to be VERY unreliable, then slightly unreliable, and now they are VERY reliable; so much so that they use them on T.V. for "cheating on your spouse" shows with no fear of being sued.

My father used them all the time.

I wish more companies did.

Answer 2

Polygraphs are based on a reading of you. The examiner will first ask a series of softball questions that you should have no problems answering. Such as, "What is your name?", "Do you work at ....?" From this they get a base line reading of your stress level.

They then ask you the questions they have doubts about, dependant upon the interview. Such as "Did you steal the...." "Have you been honest in your application" Etc... The machine then tests any differences in your stess levels between your base line and your other questions. They will go through these questions several times to make sure any spikes are consistent throughout.

The theory is to make your base line high stress to match your lies. Easy in practice, hard in reality. You literaly have to raise your blood pressure, heart rate and body temp. One of the few ways to do this is to hold your breath. The machine might be fooled, but the skilled examiner won't be. That is the key, you have a person watching trained to look for deceptive behavior. Most of the time you have to keep your hands flat at your sides, stare at one point on the wall and answer "Yes" or "no" only. Not even sir is allowed on the end of the yes or no. Hard to have room to maneuver there.

Polygraphs are junk science, took one for a police department hiring process. I had nothing to hide and I passed, but by the end I was stressedout by the way it went. they really suck to be in. My College Advisor was a polygraph expert and he hated them. He said he never once said he went on the record saying he was 100% certain either way. However, a majority of the "false" readings are going to be on the side of an innocent person getting extremely stressed out by the test and looking like they are lying rather than the other way around.

And by the way, to the person who said TV shows use them without fear of getting sued because they are so reliable. They have no fear of getting sued because they had the person sign a waiver of liability and agreement not to sue before going on the show, not because of the polygraph's famed reliability

Answer 3

By enticing it with a crackergraph. ;-)


(Sorry, that may be a bit too obscure of a reference - think "Poly want a...")

Other than that, being psychotic and/or a pathological liar helps. :-) You can also make yourself "fret" when you get to places where you're giving clearly honest answers (such as "Are you female?"). If the polygraph reveals that you exhibit the physical features of lying even when you're known to be telling the truth, that would pretty much eliminate any degree of reliability it might otherwise have been thought to have. Just think of something that can on the spur of the moment make you feel intensely guilty - a time when you lied or deceived someone with really bad consequences, iow.

Answer 4

Polygraphs are NOT very good. Polygraph administrators can be very good, but anyone who either believes they are telling the truth or who are good liars (like Bush) cannot be detected by a polygraph. There is a new brain scan that can tell a lie from the truth, but it is far from being usable in polygraph situations, much less being admissible..

Answer 5

Modern computerized polygraphs CANNOT be beaten, tricked or fooled.

Thumbtacks in the shoe show an increase in blood pressure tipping off the operator.
The same with Valium or a sedative.

Answer 6

There are many ways to trick a polygraph.They are complete junk science.

The polygraph measures your respiration, heart rate, skin conductivity, ect. Changes in these are generally associated with stress from lying. But any number of factors can cause changes in those things, including shear will power.

The most modern polygraph hasn't been shown to be anymore accurate then an older one.

Answer 7

If you are taking one for employment, you will likely get fired if they find out you were not completely truthful or you tried to fool the polygraph.

Answer 8

If you haven't done anything to lie about, you can't. It measures an electrical skin response to an instant reflex of nervousness. When they ask your name, and your name is not material, tell them anything. It won't work. But if you know you committed a crime and they are looking for someone with your name and you try to lie, busted. The only was is to be able to anticipate the questions and they make sure that you can't. They will probably let you try though, but if you are lying for fun, you won't generate that nervouse response. They are pretty reliable. Have fun.

Answer 9

Well, if you are a pathological liar, like my ex-husband is, you would be able to pass the test even if you were lying through your teeth. A pathological liar, I am told, is someone who BELIEVES that what he or she is saying is the truth. So, if you make yourself believe "without a doubt" that you are telling the truth, then you will pass because my ex-husband did! A lot of criminals are pathological and that is why they can pass a lie detector test.

Answer 10

the tester will ask you a yes or no question. Then you say to yourself: do you eat poop? of course the answer is no. you are answering the question you asked yourself not the question the tester asked you. you could also take sedatives before test. or you could put a thumbtack in your shoe and press your foot against it when ever a question is asked. however i don't advise this cause you'll just end up with a bloody foot