7 ms·

let's get real, polygraphs are a ruse in order to humiliate people and see how they react in torture situations. Using them is a power play. It lets the victim

let's get real, polygraphs are a ruse in order to humiliate people and see how they react in torture situations. Using them is a power play. It lets the victim know who the boss is.

pc86 6y ago
This seems like a pretty adversarial way to look at it, using words like "power play" and "victim." From my understanding the CIA still regularly uses polygraphs. I have to wonder why that is, and it may have nothing to do with the polygraph itself. Maybe it's more just making sure someone has nothing to hide? I'm also not sure what "beating" the polygraph means in the context of them not working in the first place. How do you beat something that doesn't do what it purports to do?
- giles_corey 6y ago
  Beating the polygraph means passing it when you're lying about the relevant issues. Although polygraphy has no scientific basis, the methodology employed makes effective countermeasures possible.
- dx87 6y ago
  I've talked to someone who administers polygraphs, and they said the machine is mostly theatre, but that there is normally someone watching you through a hidden camera or double sided mirror to see how you act when you think someone isn't looking. For example, when I had to take a polygraph for work, the polygrapher left the room a few times because they "needed to get a second opinion about abnormal results". That's when the hidden person would supposedly be watching to see if I acted differently when I thought I was alone.
  - elliekelly 6y ago
    That process sounds even more scientifically dubious than the demonstrably dubious machine.
    - bryanrasmussen 6y ago
      right, when left alone the subject started flipping a coin (one side of which was disfigured) manically, and seeming to have an argument with themselves, sometimes shouting "you're guilty, you know it" and other times growling "those coppers will never crack me".
    - AnIdiotOnTheNet 6y ago
      Indeed, but no more so than any interview process. Perhaps they should use a whiteboard instead?
LatteLazy 6y ago
Partly its that. Partly its about tricking juries, "He failed/refused the polygraph" is a very nice way to discredit someone. At least 5 of the 12 people there will find that concerning and not know its BS.
- rndgermandude 6y ago
  I thought polygraphs are prohibited in courts in most jurisdictions?
  - LatteLazy 6y ago
    It's used in criminal courts 19 states and at the federal level by the disgression of the judge. Plus it's used in a bunch of "non-court but legal process" like for people on probation. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Polygraph#United_States https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Polygraph#United_States Interestingly (last paragraph of the link above) the US has indicted people for offering to teach other how to beat the test!?
- zxcvbn4038 6y ago
  Any lawyers in the house? I was under the impression that (in the US) refusing to take a polygraph was not considered an admission of guilt though could be grounds for dismissal from federal employment.
  - deleted 6y ago
    [deleted]
  - ta17711771 6y ago
    What's legal has nothing to do with swaying a jury.
    - zxcvbn4038 6y ago
      If the opposing side brought up refusing to take a polygraph you would object and ask the judge to explain to the jury why that had to be disregarded, right?
roenxi 6y ago
I'm not sure how stupid a spy would have to be for "are you a spy? Be honest!" questions to work. But if I were running an organisation I suppose I'd have people ask anyway because it'll catch some idiot sooner or later. Polygraphs as a power play - well, I'm sure it happens but that probably isn't the reason it is in the room. Maybe the polygraph is a ruse to make people think FBI questioners are stupider than they really are? I can see value in having a distraction from the actual questions.
- blaser-waffle 6y ago
  > I'm not sure how stupid a spy would have to be for "are you a spy? Be honest!" questions to work. But if I were running an organisation I suppose I'd have people ask anyway because it'll catch some idiot sooner or later. Those are questions on the SF-86. Ditto for a lot of customs & immigration paperwork. "Idiot detector" questions. But if you don't have them on there then they can claim "but you never asked".
  - ganoushoreilly 6y ago
    Yep, it's also another line item when charges are brought. Kind of similar to how states like Tennessee that don't have legalized marijuana still have a tax stamp process. I doubt anyone ever applied for one, but if you get caught with some pot, boom pot and failure to present tax stamp. Two for one.
blaser-waffle 6y ago
Polygraphs are there to create a high-stakes stress/interrogation situation to see if someone cracks or reacts. It's more of an art form than a science -- and that's why it's not admissible as evidence in a criminal investigation (and shouldn't be) The rationale for continued use in clearance screenings is that it's not scientific, but it's better than nothing.
- jacquesm 6y ago
  I don't think it is better than nothing at all. Passing a polygraph test is now potentially a false signal, giving a false sense of security to the parties concerned. Without a signal the situation would be better.

let's get real, polygraphs are a ruse in order to humiliate people and see how they react in torture situations. Using them is a power play. It lets the victim know who the boss is.

pc86 6y ago

This seems like a pretty adversarial way to look at it, using words like "power play" and "victim." From my understanding the CIA still regularly uses polygraphs. I have to wonder why that is, and it may have nothing to do with the polygraph itself. Maybe it's more just making sure someone has nothing to hide? I'm also not sure what "beating" the polygraph means in the context of them not working in the first place. How do you beat something that doesn't do what it purports to do?

giles_corey 6y ago
Beating the polygraph means passing it when you're lying about the relevant issues. Although polygraphy has no scientific basis, the methodology employed makes effective countermeasures possible.
dx87 6y ago
I've talked to someone who administers polygraphs, and they said the machine is mostly theatre, but that there is normally someone watching you through a hidden camera or double sided mirror to see how you act when you think someone isn't looking. For example, when I had to take a polygraph for work, the polygrapher left the room a few times because they "needed to get a second opinion about abnormal results". That's when the hidden person would supposedly be watching to see if I acted differently when I thought I was alone.
- elliekelly 6y ago
  That process sounds even more scientifically dubious than the demonstrably dubious machine.
  - bryanrasmussen 6y ago
    right, when left alone the subject started flipping a coin (one side of which was disfigured) manically, and seeming to have an argument with themselves, sometimes shouting "you're guilty, you know it" and other times growling "those coppers will never crack me".
  - AnIdiotOnTheNet 6y ago
    Indeed, but no more so than any interview process. Perhaps they should use a whiteboard instead?

LatteLazy 6y ago

Partly its that. Partly its about tricking juries, "He failed/refused the polygraph" is a very nice way to discredit someone. At least 5 of the 12 people there will find that concerning and not know its BS.

rndgermandude 6y ago
I thought polygraphs are prohibited in courts in most jurisdictions?
- LatteLazy 6y ago
  It's used in criminal courts 19 states and at the federal level by the disgression of the judge. Plus it's used in a bunch of "non-court but legal process" like for people on probation. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Polygraph#United_States https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Polygraph#United_States Interestingly (last paragraph of the link above) the US has indicted people for offering to teach other how to beat the test!?
zxcvbn4038 6y ago
Any lawyers in the house? I was under the impression that (in the US) refusing to take a polygraph was not considered an admission of guilt though could be grounds for dismissal from federal employment.
- deleted 6y ago
  [deleted]
- ta17711771 6y ago
  What's legal has nothing to do with swaying a jury.
  - zxcvbn4038 6y ago
    If the opposing side brought up refusing to take a polygraph you would object and ask the judge to explain to the jury why that had to be disregarded, right?

roenxi 6y ago

I'm not sure how stupid a spy would have to be for "are you a spy? Be honest!" questions to work. But if I were running an organisation I suppose I'd have people ask anyway because it'll catch some idiot sooner or later. Polygraphs as a power play - well, I'm sure it happens but that probably isn't the reason it is in the room. Maybe the polygraph is a ruse to make people think FBI questioners are stupider than they really are? I can see value in having a distraction from the actual questions.

blaser-waffle 6y ago
> I'm not sure how stupid a spy would have to be for "are you a spy? Be honest!" questions to work. But if I were running an organisation I suppose I'd have people ask anyway because it'll catch some idiot sooner or later. Those are questions on the SF-86. Ditto for a lot of customs & immigration paperwork. "Idiot detector" questions. But if you don't have them on there then they can claim "but you never asked".
- ganoushoreilly 6y ago
  Yep, it's also another line item when charges are brought. Kind of similar to how states like Tennessee that don't have legalized marijuana still have a tax stamp process. I doubt anyone ever applied for one, but if you get caught with some pot, boom pot and failure to present tax stamp. Two for one.

blaser-waffle 6y ago

Polygraphs are there to create a high-stakes stress/interrogation situation to see if someone cracks or reacts. It's more of an art form than a science -- and that's why it's not admissible as evidence in a criminal investigation (and shouldn't be) The rationale for continued use in clearance screenings is that it's not scientific, but it's better than nothing.

jacquesm 6y ago
I don't think it is better than nothing at all. Passing a polygraph test is now potentially a false signal, giving a false sense of security to the parties concerned. Without a signal the situation would be better.