Anyone Ever Taken A Polygraph?

[Papa Deuce]

OMG! That's scary! (But your really did it; right? I know you've been making those Disney Dollars in your basement!!!!)

I hope they've improved the quality of those things! I mean, they still won't hold up in court - will they?

You know, I said to the agents during the interview that I would have no reason to do it and that my wife and I do real well for ourselves, and would have no reason to do it.

One guy said, "you would be surprised at how many well off people get involved in this sort of thing".

 

[Tiger Fan]

I have a good friend that is a police detective. She doesn't give the test or interpet them, but she's warned me NEVER to take one, even if innocent. She says that the person reading those test can be really subjective and often times it depends more on what they feel for you or about you than what the actual test says. I know that people will argue that there are people who are good, experienced and honest and this wouldn't happen with them, but I'm still very skeptical.
Lisa
Tiger Fan aka The Great Tiger

 

[MUFFYCAT]

I took a polygraph test 25 years ago for a bank teller position. I told the truth when asked if I stole anything then explainedit was $7.50 shirt in high school. They also asked if I was a drinker and used drugs. I said I was a social drinker & tried marijiana. I did get the job.

 

[auntpolly]

I took a polygraph test 25 years ago for a bank teller position. I told the truth when asked if I stole anything then explainedit was $7.50 shirt in high school. They also asked if I was a drinker and used drugs. I said I was a social drinker & tried marijiana. I did get the job.

Good for you! (For getting the job and for telling the truth!)

I don't think I'd ever take one again, though.

 

[pamlet]

I posted this story a long time ago here on DIS. Long story made VERY SHORT, I was polygraphed by the Secret Service for susupicion of counterfeiting!. I didn't do it. Took the test 3x. And you have to pass it all 3x to be "cleared".

Geez - apparently this happens more than we hear tho'. My husband worked with a fellow who's son was involved in counterfeiting.... unfortunately he was guilty tho' from what we've heard.

Thank goodness you were cleared!!!!!

 

[JKMastalski]

My poor DH wanted nothing more to become a police officer. He is the most honest person I know. For real. He can't even lie! So he had to take a polygraph as part of the process and they told him that he failed it!!! The poor guy was so upset, he made them reschedule a second one and they told him that he failed it again!!! To this day, we think it was more of an issue that they were trying to hire minority cops on the force and he didnt fit the description. We could be wrong, but we'll never know!

 

[Jilliebean]

Almost 20 years ago, I worked in cash control for Six Flags and we were required to take them periodically. I absolutely hated them! I was always a nervous wreck.

As an adult, I woud not take one unless required to by the police. I would not take one to keep an $8 per hour job

 

[auntpolly]

My poor DH wanted nothing more to become a police officer. He is the most honest person I know. For real. He can't even lie!

That's such a shame! I really wish someone who knew about polygraphs would post and tell us more about them!

What a stupid system if I can lie and get the job and your poor husband tells the truth and doesn't get it!!!

 

[auntpolly]

As an adult, I woud not take one unless required to by the police. I would not take one to keep an $8 per hour job

Amen to that.

 

[Tinkerbelle739]

whatever you say Elaine

 

[auntpolly]

Don't laugh! Every so often we need to gently remind Monkeyboy that he does not live on a sitcom!

 

[Chicago526]

I heard (and I don't remember who told me) that if the person that GIVES the test knows what they are doing, that the tests are quite accurate. The key is to have someone that gives the test that is honest and experianced!

 

[Pam]

I haven't had once since I was on the failed reality show, "Who Wants To Marry My Dad"........

 

[TLinden16]

I took one about 10 years ago when I applied for a job with the FBI. It was a really interesting process, and I passed with flying colors. The FBI agent who administered the test spent a bit of time explaining how it works to me, and also the results of my test.

Karen

 

[mssocks]

I never had an "official" polygraph for law enforcement, but my therapist made an interesting observation. We were using the "feedback" machine that is little sensors on your fingertips during a session. He can read any anxiety that I experience while I visualize what he is describing. ( I know TMI, but I can't think how to describe it otherwise ).

After we were done, he looked at me and said, "if you ever commit a crime, do NOT take a polygraph test. You would fail it in a minute." Apparantly, my emotions and thoughts zoom out my fingers pretty well!

 

[phillybeth]

My poor DH wanted nothing more to become a police officer. He is the most honest person I know. For real. He can't even lie! So he had to take a polygraph as part of the process and they told him that he failed it!!! The poor guy was so upset, he made them reschedule a second one and they told him that he failed it again!!! To this day, we think it was more of an issue that they were trying to hire minority cops on the force and he didnt fit the description. We could be wrong, but we'll never know!

Philly has stopped using polygraphs for police recruits as they have proved to be VERY unreliable indicators.

 

[ChrisnSteph]

I have taken one. It was for a dispatch job with a police department. I passed every question except for one - other than the people we already discussed, do you associate with anyone who does drugs? I answered no, which was the truth, but in my mind I kept thinking "what if I do associate with someone who does drugs but I don't know for sure?" There were a few people in my life that I thought maybe experimented but I didn't know for a fact. Anyhow, we repeated that one question a number of times, reworded it, we tried everything, and I think I just got nervous that no matter what I was going to fail it because as soon as he started asking the question again, my heartrate would go up and I'd fail. Got worse every time. I explained what was going through my head and I was actually offered the job, but now I firmly believe that a polygraph is not entirely accurate.