Information To Enhance The Pre- And In-Test Interview
The following discussion between examiner and examinee will increase disclosures of problem behavior during interview and produce better tests results due to enhancing the effect of differential saliency. Release of Information Form: Reinforce confidentiality; “it’s nobody else’s business what we talk about.” You will be given every opportunity to discuss with me the things you know are important in this interview.
I will review all of the standard conditions of probation and treatment; most will probably not apply to you, but some will, and you will need to be honest with me about each of them. When we are all done discussing your activity during the period for this test, I will have two “stacks” of behavior; one stack (maybe large) of things you have not done and another one (probably small) of things you have done or may apply to you in some way. I will normally test you on those activities you claim you have not done. That way it will be very easy for you to pass the test. So, if something applies to you, whether you have told your PO or treatment provider, just be honest and tell me so we can talk about it and get if off your mind (no longer a secret). I am not going to test you on things you have done—just what you claim you have not done. Give ‘gun’ example: and “how sure are you that you haven’t handled a firearm? 100%?” Once we are done with this review, which will take a while, then I can put together the simple “yes or “no” questions for your test. Since I do not know what kind of things you are going to tell me, I do not know what the test questions will be until we are all done with the review. We will then prepare all test questions together, that way if you think of something else you can tell me before the test and I can change the question if I need to, or even toss it out and put something else in.
There many things I can test and interview you on today and I want you to be completely certain that your answer to each question is 100% truthful. This is a very easy test to pass, but it is just as easy to fail. Therefore, before you get into “that” chair and are hooked up to the polygraph, you will know every question on the test since we made them up together and reviewed them. It is against the law for me to ask you any other question during the test (like in the movies) other than the ones we prepared and you assured me you were answering truthfully.
By signing this release you are agreeing to several things; you understand the information we talk about is only given to the persons/programs listed above; you will follow the instructions I give you on how to “take” the test and interview, and perhaps most important, you agree to be completely honest about everything we talk about. You cannot choose what you will be truthful to. This is not a lie-detector test, unless you decide to purposely lie to any of the questions, then that is exactly what it will end up being. This is really a ‘truth verification test’ which is a much better outcome for you and will make your PO and treatment provider happy. Remember, the first thing they look at on my report is the last page, which indicates if the person “passed or “failed”. When, not “if” you pass this test they are less likely to impose a severe penalty if you were honest and told me about it before the test. Of course, if you have robbed a bank that is a different story—-but as long as you told me about it before the test, you would still pass the test. Remember, you can pass this test no matter what you have done, as long as you tell me the truth about it. Again—I am not going to test you on what you have done—just what you have not done. When you “pass” this test today, the next one we do will be from this day forward—a clean slate, but only if you tell the truth before you take this test. If you lie you will fail the test. That will bring everything to a standstill. You will eventually have to get honest anyway; you will be in trouble with your PO and treatment provider and are sanctioned for lying. Most of the time the lie is a bigger deal than the behavior was. In most all cases, you will probably be required to pay again and take a re-test. Unlike any other test you have ever taken, you will know the results of this one before you even take it. I am the only one in the dark right now, but in a little while, I will know what you know. So, if you promise to be truthful with me today, go ahead and sign the form. If you feel for any reason you just cannot be honest today, do not sign the form; you can wait in the lobby and I will contact your PO.
End of First Chart: OK—how did you feel when you answered each question? Did anything important come to your mind on any of the questions we need to talk about? If something did, we can ‘fix’ it before we do the next chart. I think you sat pretty still as I asked you to do—the computer did not show any twitches or movement, which is good. No, I do not know how you are doing on the test, since the data is stored in the computer and I will print it out and evaluate it when we are all done. However, you know how you are doing don’t you? As long as you know you are being completely honest to each question, you will pass the test. OK, let us get ready to do the second examination chart. Since you are telling the truth (I hope) this second time through will actually be a little easier. You know how it feels to sit there and answer each question; you are used to hearing my voice and you are aware of how it feels to be very honest when you answer “yes” or “no”.
On that first chart, the questions were asked in the same order we prepared them and rehearsed them earlier. On this chart, the computer will mix up the order in which the questions will be asked so I will be asking them in a different order. Same questions—same truthful answers. If you are simply sitting there waiting to tell the truth, you don’t care what order they are in– -do you? Of course, if you are waiting to lie, that will be obvious when it happens.
OK, let us get started again. OK, that chart should have “felt” easier than the first. It is always easier to tell the truth repeatedly since your body gets more and more comfortable each time. Truthful people often say they can feel their stress level go down when they know they are being honest. Now, for the person who is not being honest it just starts bad and gets worse, every time. So, before we finish this up, is there anything else you may have thought about we need to discuss? We can still “fix” a question if you “remembered” something during the test. OK then, this third chart should be the best one for you. So sit quietly, pay close attention and listen carefully, telling the truth one more time. When we finish this chart, I will check the data to make sure you did not flinch or move, which could require additional testing.
OK, we are all done with the test and interview. I will have you wait in the lobby for me. I will print out all your test data and do the evaluation. It will take 20-30 minutes to complete and then I will come get you and we will review the results.
Take a lie detector test in Maidstone or London
