George Maschke on How to Beat a Polygraph Test

AntiPolygraph.org's George Maschke speaks with Nick Frost about how to fool a polygraph (lie detector) test in episode 5 of the tongue-in-cheek 2003 television series Danger: Incoming Attack.

Note that the anal sphincter contraction, discussed as a polygraph countermeasure, while effective, is no longer recommended by AntiPolygraph.org, and alternative techniques such as mental countermeasures or tongue-biting are to be preferred. Note also that in his summary, host Nick Frost incorrectly characterizes the anal sphincter contraction as squeezing one's buttocks (which was and remains to be avoided).

Note also that polygrapher Bruce Burgess purports to know that "someone is messing around" based on the fact that Nick's chart showed reactions to both relevant and control questions. This is utter nonsense, however. Indeed, the polygraph "control question test" was developed in response to the realization that even innocent people might well react to accusatory relevant questions. The way one passes the "test" is to show stronger reactions to the control questions than to the relevant questions, and it is to be expected that a truthful person might show reactions to both kinds of questions.

For a much fuller explanation of how to pass or beat a polygraph test, see AntiPolygraph.org's free book, The Lie Behind the Lie Detector, which may be downloaded at:

http://antipolygraph.org/lie-behind-the-lie-detector.pdf

Category:

Entertainment

Tags:

• polygraph
• lie-detector

[vladimirhorowitz]

How is this video helpful at all? He used all the techniques outlined in the beginning of the video and at the end and failed miserably.

[AntiPolygraph]

@vladimirhorowitz Please see the text information associated with this video.

[vladimirhorowitz]

@AntiPolygraph Ah, my fault. Thanks for the quick response. Out of curiosity have you seen the Mythbusters take on this? The two individuals using countermeasures (mental techniques and the tack) failed, but the individual telling the truth passed.

[AntiPolygraph]

@vladimirhorowitz For relevant commentary, Google "Mythbusters Beat the Lie Detector Episode Featuring Phony Ph.D. 'Dr.' Michael Martin."

[SlLENTHlLL]

.

Polygraphs are complete and utter quackery.

It's OBVIOUS that your heart rate will go up, and that you'll start to sweat and feel nervous as hell. (okay, MOST people would... some individuals have the ability to stay calm in any situation...)

Polygraphs are ONLY good for sending innocent people to jail.

[JessePlaysGuitar]

A man buys a lie detector robot that slaps people who lie. He decides to test it at dinner.

DAD: Son, where were you today during school hours?

SON: At school*Robot slaps Son*

SON: OK,I went to the movies.

DAD: Which one?

SON: Toy Story*Robot slaps son again*

SON: OK, it was Day with a Porn Star.

DAD: WHAT? When I was your age I didn't even know what porn was!*Robot slaps Dad*

MOM: HAHA! After all he's your son.*Robot slaps mom*

[psp785]

george castanza beat them just beleave the lie

[floeticdeath]

@SlLENTHlLL lol polygraphs arent admissible in court lol.

[satyriconlife]

@DUBmaster77 im not sure, but id like to put it to the test to find out, i would imagine it might work

[DUBmaster77]

@satyriconlife that works?

[satyriconlife]

you guys, think of 2 diff questions you can say yes or no too, when asked a question to say yes think of a diff 1 and reply

[kalofimi]

polygraphs are only useful for sending innocent people to jail and breaking up relationships on maury

[NegativeZero360]

@FreemasonsAreAwesome I appreciate that, i completely understand now, maybe it would be effective in diagnosing schizophrenia huh? haha Thanks.

[FreemasonsAreAwesome]

@NegativeZero360 You can tell the truth and still fail the poly. It isn't a gauge of truth telling its a way of measuring someone's anxiety level. If somebody is a nervous person or on edge all the time they could tell the truth completely and still fail it. There is a reason that poly tests aren't admissable in a court of law. Because they are highly unreliable.

[gwmaschke]

@NegativeZero360 If one were to mistakenly augment reactions to a relevant question instead of a control question, then one might well end up failing.