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A complete guide to keeping your cool and passing a polygraph exam
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The infamous polygraph test—also known as the "lie detector" test—is often looked upon as cause for anxiety and fear, even among people who are perfectly innocent and who should be able to pass the test without cheating or manipulating the results. If you need advice on how to pass a polygraph test one way or another, you've come to the right place.
How to Pass a Lie Detector Test
- Bite your tongue or hold your breath during control questions.
- Imagine a peaceful setting to stay calm during relevant questions.
- Answer only with “yes” or “no”—avoid any elaboration or explanation.
- Respond truthfully if you have nothing to hide.
Steps
Section 1 of 5:
11 Ways to Pass a Polygraph Test
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1Stay completely zen OR completely distraught the entire 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.
- Think through the worst experience of your life, recall a tear-jerking film scene, or try to do long division in your head.
- If there’s a certain question you’re really anxious about, imagine every question is that question before answering. That alone may be enough to keep your heart rate up.
- Whatever keeps you in a constant state of excitation, stress, or fear—do that!
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2Stress yourself out when answering the pre-interview questions. If you feel the need to cheat or manipulate the test, try to cause yourself mental or physical stress when giving answers to the control questions. This section often includes harmless questions that the tester assumes you’ll lie about—such as “Have you ever stolen money?,” “Have you ever lied to your parents?,” or “Have you ever cheated on a test?” [1] X Research source
- Most people have done these things once but still lie about it on the polygraph test. For this reason, the examiner uses your response to these questions as a way to establish how you physically react when lying.
- When answering these questions, do something to raise your heart rate and perspiration: think of a frightening or exciting thought, gently bite your tongue, or try to solve a difficult math problem in your head. [2] X Research source
- Another strategy is to tense your muscles or alter your breathing rate during these questions (and return to normal for the rest of the test). For example, you could quicken your breath, breathe more shallowly, or hold your breath as long as possible.
- As a result, your baseline will be higher so any subsequent spikes during important lies will seem minor and may remain undetected.
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Use calming techniques when answering relevant questions. When asked a question relevant to the case or situation, put yourself in a calm state of mind when you answer. By staying as calm as possible, you can prevent many major spikes in your physiological responses (especially if you’re actually lying). [3] X Research source
- Maintain your breathing pattern and keep in mind that the polygraph is not infallible, and that you are in control of your own physiological response.
- Daydream about something soothing like cuddling under a warm blanket with a cup of hot chocolate on a cool night or taking a relaxing shower or bath.
- Essentially, a “lie” only counts if that lie generates a greater physiological response than that which you had while you were telling “white lies” with the control questions. [4] X Research source
- As long as your physiological response to a question and answer produces a less noticeable reaction than any reaction you displayed while answering the control questions, it will probably not count against you.
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4Identify the purpose of each question before answering. Determine if question is irrelevant (e.g., “What is your full name?”), relevant (e.g., “Did you know about the crime?”, or used for diagnostic/control purposes (e.g., “Have you ever lied to get out of trouble?”). [5] X Research source Take your time and ask clarifying questions as needed—depending on the examiner, you can ask for a question to be repeated between 2-6 times.
- Do not rush through the questions, since this sense of haste can skew the results against you.
- You can also review the questions before the test—in most cases, the polygraph examiner is required to tell you the questions ahead of time.
- Take all the time you need reviewing them, and feel free to ask the examiner for clarification about uncertain or confusing questions.
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5Mentally change the meaning of the questions being asked. Take the question that’s been asked and manipulate it in your head to mean something else. If you do this successfully, you’ll be able to answer the question without feeling guilty or having the physiological response associated with a lie.
- For example, maybe you’ve been asked “Were you at the park between 6 and 7pm?”
- If you need your response to be a lie, take a moment to convince yourself that the examiner has asked “Were you at the zoo between 6 and 7pm?” or “Were you at the park between noon and 1pm?”
- If you offer a lie as your answer, your mind won’t feel like it’s really lying.
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6Answer firmly and concisely with “yes” or “no.” Most questions asked during your polygraph will only require a yes-or-no answer. [6] X Research source Avoid offering any explanations or elaborations unless absolutely necessary.
- If you do have to respond with more than a yes-or-no answer, give a strange or vague response that makes it difficult for the examiner to pin down what your “normal” response would be.
- If you say “yes” or “no” and the administrator asks you to expand on your answer, reply with “What more do you want me to say?” or “There’s really nothing more to say about that.”
- Be cooperative and reply without any coldness or edge to your voice. However, avoid being overly congenial or humorous in your answers.
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7Resist responding to accusations of dishonesty. An examiner may accuse you of lying or note that they have detected a lie. Don’t admit to having lied—if anything, channel the accusation into your feelings of being upset and confused so that the examiner continues to have conflicting results.
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8Speak truthfully. If you have nothing to hide or be ashamed of, then tell the truth to each question you are asked. This includes control questions, for which many people are expected to lie. The more often you tell the truth, the more accurate the results will be. This is a good thing, as long as you are innocent. [7] X Research source
- While people often believe that there will be "trick" questions designed to trap them into a guilty answer, the current state of ethics surrounding the administration of polygraph exams demands that the questions remain straightforward. No surprise questions will be asked, either.
- Listen to the entire question thoroughly and answer it precisely. Do not listen to only half the question or answer the question according to what you think it asked rather than what it actually asked.
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9Let yourself be nervous. Nowadays, no one is expected to remain perfectly calm during a polygraph test, even if the person in question is perfectly innocent and has nothing to hide. [8] X Research source
- By allowing yourself to be nervous, you can provide the polygraph examiner with an accurate representation of your physiological statistics when you are being truthful and when you are lying.
- The lines on the polygraph screen will never be flat and smooth, even if you are telling the truth.
- Oddly enough, only the person who is nervous about every answer will appear the most truthful on a polygraph test.
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10Avoid tricks that are easy to catch. If the examiner catches you trying to cheat the test, you might be asked to schedule another test or the examiner may take countermeasures against further acts of manipulation. Moreover, attempts to manipulate the test might cause the examiner or reviewer to judge your results more harshly once you finish.
- For instance, some sources recommend that you stick a thumbtack in your shoe and attempt to press down on it to spike your vitals during control questions.
- Oftentimes, an examiner will have you remove your shoes during the test to avoid such tricks. [9] X Research source
- In fact, while physical pain will cause your vitals to spike, it is usually easier to catch than psychological stress.
- Biting your tongue, clenching a muscle, or other similar tactics can be caught easily if you are working with a trained polygraph professional.
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11Practice countermeasures before the lie detector test. Ask a trusted friend or confidante to ask you questions that you’re likely to be asked during the exam. Take note of your heart rate and breathing and how they change in response to different types of questions.
- However, try not to overthink the test too much beforehand—you might run the risk of skewing the test against your favor by working yourself up over your responses. [10] X Research source
- Avoid spending too much time reviewing anti-polygraph websites, since these websites often mix fact with hyped-up conspiracies and may cause undue panic.
- Instead, get plenty of rest the night before the test—aim for 7-8 hours. Follow your typical nighttime and morning routine, eat a complete meal, and wear comfortable clothing for the exam.
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Community Q&A
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QuestionCan an employee refuse a polygraph test?This answer was written by one of our trained team of researchers who validated it for accuracy and comprehensiveness.wikiHow Staff EditorStaff AnswerAbsolutely yes, and an employer cannot require, request or even suggest a lie detector test be taken by an employee or job applicant. As an employer you also cannot discipline, dismiss, discriminate against or threaten to take action against any employee or job applicant who refuses a test. There are a few exceptions to these laws, for certain government employees and for jobs related to security, handling drugs or when investigating a specific theft or suspected crime. Even if a test is potentially allowed, there must be a reasonable and provable suspicion that the person was involved, at least 48 hours of notice before the test, as well as specific limitations on how the test can be given.
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QuestionHow accurate is the lie detector test?This answer was written by one of our trained team of researchers who validated it for accuracy and comprehensiveness.wikiHow Staff EditorStaff AnswerLie detector tests are notoriously inaccurate. There is no good, reliable or evidence-based way to connect the kind of data that lie detector tests measure (such as readings on skin conductivity, blood pressure, heart rate and breathing) with whether or not someone is telling the truth. The American Psychological Association says that, "...the most practical advice is to remain skeptical about any conclusion wrung from a polygraph."
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QuestionCan you fail a polygraph by being nervous?This answer was written by one of our trained team of researchers who validated it for accuracy and comprehensiveness.wikiHow Staff EditorStaff AnswerThis is certainly a possibility and one of many reasons why polygraphs are unlikely to be very accurate.
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Tips
- Let your examiner know before the test if you have any mental or physical health conditions, take medications, or are otherwise feeling ill.Thanks
- Some medical conditions prohibit the use of lie detector tests. People who have epilepsy, nerve damage, heart disease, stroke history, or extreme fatigue shouldn’t take the test. Pregnant women and people diagnosed with antisocial personality disorder or psychopathy are also generally exempted from the test.Thanks
- Once you’ve completed the lie detector test, wait for your official results and any follow-up testing. If you don’t receive the results within 1-2 weeks, call or contact your examiner to request them.Thanks
Tips from our Readers
The advice in this section is based on the lived experiences of wikiHow readers like you. If you have a helpful tip you’d like to share on wikiHow, please submit it in the field below.
- If the blood pressure cuff becomes too uncomfortable for you, tell the examiner. My examiner was very considerate and paused the test so she could release the air in the cuff.
- To make the polygraph "spike," clench the muscles in your butt. This action can't be seen, but it will cause a spike in your blood pressure.
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Warnings
- Avoid resorting to manipulation. If you are innocent and have nothing to hide, your best bet is simply to be honest and truthful during the test.Thanks
- Some people may advise the use of certain drugs that can alter the result of a polygraph test, such as heart rate and blood pressure medication. However, the use of drugs for this purpose should be avoided because of potential health risks. Plus, most lie detector tests are preceded by a drug test anyways.Thanks
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References
- ↑ https://www.iflscience.com/how-to-beat-a-lie-detector-69212
- ↑ https://www.livescience.com/33512-pass-lie-detector-polygraph.html
- ↑ https://www.livescience.com/33512-pass-lie-detector-polygraph.html
- ↑ https://www.livescience.com/33512-pass-lie-detector-polygraph.html
- ↑ https://www.bbc.com/future/article/20160412-can-you-beat-a-lie-detector-test
- ↑ https://nap.nationalacademies.org/read/10420/chapter/3#12
- ↑ https://iamscpd.org/polygraph-psych-medical
- ↑ https://iamscpd.org/polygraph-psych-medical
- ↑ https://www.livescience.com/33512-pass-lie-detector-polygraph.html
- ↑ https://www.military.com/veteran-jobs/security-clearance-jobs/passing-polygraph.html
- ↑ https://www.livescience.com/33512-pass-lie-detector-polygraph.html
- ↑ https://nap.nationalacademies.org/read/10420/chapter/3#14
- ↑ https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/BF02912514
- ↑ https://www.apa.org/topics/cognitive-neuroscience/polygraph
- ↑ https://insidetime.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/Polygraph-scientific-paper-RPS-2004.pdf
- ↑ https://scholar.google.com/scholar_case?case=13874937043928283511&hl=en&as_sdt=6&as_vis=1&oi=scholarr
- ↑ https://www.apa.org/topics/cognitive-neuroscience/polygraph
- ↑ https://liedetectortest.com/polygraph/what-behavior-does-a-polygraph-examiner-look-for-in-a-lie-detector-test
About This Article
Article Summary
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If you need to manipulate a polygraph test, stress yourself out when answering control questions to give yourself a higher baseline. You can do this by thinking about something scary or exciting or trying to solve a hard problem in your head while responding to the questions. Additionally, you’ll want to stay as calm as possible when answering relevant questions by daydreaming or breathing in an even, controlled way. Finally, avoid using techniques that are easily caught, like tensing muscles, biting your tongue, or pinching yourself. To learn how a polygraph tests works, including what types of questions you can anticipate, keep reading!
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- "I failed a polygraph test many years ago (over 40 years) and I didn't lie. The test was given as part of a pre-employment examination. I am thinking of going back to work and they want me to take a polygraph test. I was wondering if my feeling of failing the first test will affect this one. I wanted to know more about what and how the testing works. The first test I was on medication for depression and anxiety and was scared to death of the procedure. I don't want to make the same results again." ..." more
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"I failed a polygraph test many years ago (over 40 years) and I didn't lie. The test was given as part of a pre-employment examination. I am thinking of going back to work and they want me to take a polygraph test. I was wondering if my feeling of failing the first test will affect this one. I wanted to know more about what and how the testing works. The first test I was on medication for depression and anxiety and was scared to death of the procedure. I don't want to make the same results again."
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