How to Bypass a Lie Detector

Only say what needs to be said. Most tests only ask you to answer “Yes” or “No”. You should try to resist the urge to explain or go into detail, even though the interrogator may try to get you to do so. You should be polite and cooperative, but don’t give out a lot of unnecessary information.

Not admitting anything involved. No matter how the chart on the machine plots, nothing can confirm or hurt you like confessions. Lie detector operators will often try to make you believe they can “see” your lie on the machine, even if there’s nothing out of the ordinary there. Don’t fall into their trap. You do need to be honest, though, so don’t be afraid to admit small things to the guiding questions. As long as you don’t admit anything that could be suspected or understood to be relevant.

• Don’t forget that the interrogator’s job is to get a confession. All in all, the whole test is a clever trick to trick you into confessing something.

Answer questions assertively, seriously, and without hesitation. This is no time for you to joke around or play tricks. You need to be serious, cooperative, and sure.

Breathe normally. Unless answering control questions, you should try to maintain your breathing rate 15-30 times a minute. Do not breathe too deeply.

Change in breathing rate during response to control questions. The interrogator will compare your physiological response to control questions with your response to related questions. You will pass the interrogation if the variability in answering the control questions is greater than the variability in answering the related questions. Conversely, if you respond more strongly to related questions than you do to control questions, the test takers will note (either rightly or wrongly) what you are lying about. That’s relevant, and usually you don’t pass the polygraph interrogation.

• Change breathing patterns when answering control questions. You can breathe faster or slower, hold your breath for 2 seconds after each exhale, or breathe more shallowly. Do this for 5-15 seconds and return to normal breathing before answering the next question.

Answer control questions in an unusual way. When asked questions that are clearly driving questions, answer vaguely or strangely. For example, if you were asked what year it was, you might answer “Year of the Snake” or something similar. Your goal is to make it difficult for the machine to understand what your “normal” response is.

Think of something stressful when answering a control question. If you can create anxiety when answering control questions, you can change the results of the test to make your “normal” responses appear to be similar to those that make you feel anxious. really worried. For example, you can do mental math while being asked a control question. Try to do a quick countdown of 7 numbers in your head or do division with long numbers. These activities will cause your blood pressure and heart rate to change to the same extent as when you’re experiencing a real stressful situation – similar to when answering an informational question. You can also picture a scary scene like drowning, for example, as this will often increase your heart rate and breathing rate.

Handle the interview after the test. After you are disconnected from the polygraph, the person performing the check will leave you in the room for a while and then return. People may claim that they “know” you are lying about something. This is just a tip. Stay calm and firm, but politely repeat the denial. Do not change your answers or emphasize your answers and decline the interview after the polygraph test, if possible.