How to Trick a Lie Detector Test

Since the polygraph test measures a person's physical reactions to questions asked, the individual being tested must remain completely relaxed and unreactive while answering any question posed by the tester. This is why the courts in America consider polygraph testing to be junk science and do not allow it to be mentioned or used in court proceedings.

Understanding the Polygraph Test

A polygraph is most accurately defined as a stability meter. To avoid questions of honesty, you would need to refrain from any unstable impulses, which would appear different from those of the controlled or compared identification. The polygraph is often used to find an individual's average state and then compare it throughout the testing process.

Method 1: Apply Polygraph Countermeasures

1. Don’t Admit Anything Relevant

No matter the lines on the chart, your confession is more damaging than the physiological responses. The polygrapher will likely try to convince you that they can remember everything. Their primary goal is to extract confessions, so the whole examination is a complex ruse to trick you into confessing something.

2. Answer Questions Firmly, Seriously, and Without Hesitation

Avoid joking around or being crafty. You want to appear earnest, cooperative, and resolute. Approach the questions with conviction to suggest that you are confident in your answers.

3. Breathe Normally

Except during control questions, maintain a breathing rate of 15-30 breaths per minute. Do not breathe too deeply. Controlled breathing helps keep your physiological responses consistent.

4. Alter Breathing Rate with Control Questions

The polygrapher will compare your physiological responses to control questions with your responses to relevant questions. If the deviation from normal during control questions exceeds the deviation from normal during relevant questions, you will likely pass. If you react more to a relevant question than to control questions, the polygrapher may perceive that as lying and you will likely fail the test.

Technique: Change your breathing pattern when a control question is asked. You can make it faster or slower, hold your breath for a couple of seconds after an exhalation, or breathe more shallowly. Do this for 5-15 seconds and return to your normal breathing pattern before the next question.

5. Answer Control Questions Strangely

When you are asked a question that is obviously a control question, answer in a vague or odd fashion. For example, if asked what the current year is, you might respond with "um, around 2023."

6. Think of Something Mentally Stressful When Answering a Control Question

If you can artificially worry yourself when answering a control question, you can modify the results of your test so that your responses seem more normal. This helps your breathing rate and other physiological responses remain consistent with non-relevant answers.

Method 2: Be on Your Guard

1. Remember that the Polygrapher is Not Your Friend

The polygrapher may try to convince you that they are on your side and will help you out if you just be truthful. This is deception; do not buy it. The polygrapher's main objective is to extract information, not to provide support or assistance.

2. Beware of Pretest Tricks

Polygraphers often try to instill fear in the subject, convinced of the accuracy of the polygraph machine, or elicit reactions based on fear. For example, a polygrapher may say you need to wash your hands, and a hidden camera can verify if you followed this instruction. Don't believe the hype and be prepared for any tricks.

Method 3: Conceal Your Knowledge of Polygraphy

Polygraphers may ask you before the test if you've done any research or what you know about polygraph tests. Do not disclose that you've done extensive research or express any doubt about their reliability. Instead, act as though you are uninformed but believe in their accuracy.

Method 4: Prepare Well in Advance

1. Learn About Polygraphs

If your career or court case depends on it, conduct extensive research on what polygraphs are and how the process generally works. The most important thing to know is that polygraphy is not an exact science. It was created by interrogators, not scientists, and frequently produces incorrect results.

2. Find Out What the Tester is Looking For

A polygraph exam aims to discover specific information. If your test is prompted by a specific incident, you probably know what the examiner is looking for. For pre-employment or screening tests, research the company's policies to determine what you can and cannot admit.

3. Practice Countermeasures in Advance

Practicing these techniques beforehand can greatly increase your likelihood of success. Approach the polygraph examination as an extreme job interview. Dress conservatively, and try to make a good impression before the test. Ensure you arrive on time and avoid rescheduling or attempting to postpone the exam.

4. Approach the Whole Polygraph Process with Caution

Your every move is very likely observed from the moment you arrive at the testing location. Hidden cameras in the waiting room, bathroom, and polygraph room ensure that your behavior is constantly monitored. Your polygraph examination begins long before you are hooked up to the machine and ends only when you've left the testing location.