Understanding Polygraph Countermeasures: What They Are and What They Aren’t
In this blog, we’ll discuss polygraph countermeasures—what they are, why some people fail for using them, and why others are wrongly accused of using them by inexperienced examiners.
Important Disclaimer: This blog is for educational purposes only. It will not teach you how to use countermeasures, manipulate a polygraph, or “beat” a test now or in the future. You will not find step-by-step instructions here. The sole purpose of this blog is to explain, at a professional level, what countermeasures are and why they matter in professional, accurate, and ethical polygraph testing.
I am a Licensed, Advanced Board-Certified, and Court-Certified Polygraph Examiner with more than 23½ years of experience and over 19,000 examinations administered across nearly every type of issue imaginable. I regularly receive calls and emails from professionals and concerned individuals asking me to review their charts, often after being told they “failed for using countermeasures.” Through my experience reviewing the work of other examiners, I have seen firsthand how quick, uninformed, or rash decisions can unfairly harm examinees.
What Are Countermeasures?
Definition: Countermeasures are techniques used by examinees in an attempt to manipulate the physiological results of a polygraph examination and mislead the examiner, either to falsely appear truthful or to conceal deception during the test.
Polygraph testing monitors physiological responses to specific, structured questions. If, for example, you stole your roommate’s rent money and answer “No,” your body’s responses are likely to reflect that conflict. A person attempting countermeasures is trying to alter those responses so their chart reads the way they want, not the way it is.
Why Do Some People Attempt Them?
After 23½ years of administering examinations, I can confidently say that the vast majority of people who choose to take a polygraph are honest and straightforward. However, human nature is what it is, people sometimes lie or try to hide things. Those with the most to lose or gain from their results, and who are naturally less honest in their everyday lives, are the ones most likely to attempt using countermeasures.
Who tries countermeasures? Typically those who:
Have something significant to lose, such as a coveted job, security clearance, scholarship, or reputation.
Have committed a disqualifying or criminal act that could lead to termination, rejection, or legal consequences if revealed.
Are accustomed to manipulating situations or people in their everyday lives and believe they can do the same during a polygraph examination.
Even so, individuals who actually attempt countermeasures are a select few compared to the general testing population.
How an Experienced Examiner Responds
An experienced, credentialed professional examiner is trained to observe, detect, and respond to signs of manipulation.
My approach is professional and fair:
Observation & Detection: If indicators appear during testing, I address them.
Professional Warning: When appropriate, I pause and warn the examinee to stop any behavior that may be affecting the exam.
Opportunity to Correct: The examinee is given a chance to proceed correctly.
Outcome: If manipulation continues after a clear warning, the exam ends, and the examinee receives a failing test result.
I don’t like to see anyone fail. But if an examinee intentionally manipulates the test, I have a professional obligation to call it out and protect the integrity of the process.
When Examiners Get It Wrong
Here’s the other side, and it matters just as much.
There are examiners who over-call countermeasures because they’re unsure about making a definitive decision (deception/no deception). Instead of owning the call, they label it “countermeasures,” leaving the examinee in limbo and often forcing a retest elsewhere.
I know of examiners who do this routinely. Colleagues have told me they receive referrals to retest those same examinees and, upon reviewing the charts, see no countermeasures at all. The damage can be significant:
A recent example involved a Division I university athlete who was told she used countermeasures and failed. On review, no countermeasures were present. She retested, passed, and later evidence showed that other athletes fabricated a story to push her off the team. An inexperienced or overly cautious call could have changed the trajectory of her life.
I have personally seen similar cases, people labeled as using countermeasures when no such activity existed. It’s unacceptable and can be deeply harmful.
Training, Standards, and Why Examiner Choice Matters
Reputable examiners maintain ongoing, accredited training, including education in countermeasure detection. Unfortunately, some examiners do not keep up with continuing education after graduation.
Key takeaway: Who you choose to administer your polygraph test matters. Countermeasures are not as widespread as a few examiners claim. Over-calling them reflects a training and judgment problem, not an epidemic of manipulation by examinees.
If You’re Accused of Using Countermeasures, But Didn’t
If you’re confident you did not manipulate your exam and were told you did:
Request a Chart Review: Ask for an independent review by a professional, credentialed, and experienced examiner.
Seek a Retest (If Appropriate): With a seasoned professional who can clearly explain the process.
Document Everything: Keep your reports, communications, and timelines.
Protect Your Opportunities: Especially with employment, licensing, or scholarship issues, don’t let an uncertain or inexperienced call derail your future.
Why We Don’t Teach Countermeasures Here (and Never Will)
Attempting to manipulate a polygraph is unethical and self-defeating. If you are honest, you have nothing to fear from a valid, professional exam. If you are withholding, lying, or trying to hide disqualifying behavior, a polygraph is not where you should go to “fix it.”
The purpose of this blog is to inform, not to enable manipulation.
Final Thoughts: Truth, Fairness, and Professionalism
Sometimes you can choose your examiner, and sometimes you can’t. If you’re ever accused of using countermeasures and you know you would never manipulate a test or deceive anyone, seek a second opinion from an experienced, credentialed professional examiner with a proven reputation for accuracy.
If you’re someone who tends to manipulate people or systems, consider the harm that causes, especially to those who have worked hard and are being honest. Integrity matters in both life and testing.
How to Choose the Right Examiner
Look for an examiner who:
Is licensed, advanced board-certified, and court-recognized.
Has years of experience with the specific type of test you need.
Maintains ongoing accredited training (including countermeasure detection).
Has strong, positive reviews and verifiable professional references.
Explains the process clearly and maintains a professional, unbiased demeanor.
Has no history of ethical complaints or litigation.
Poorly conducted exams by inexperienced or unethical examiners will often harm you rather than help you.
When the Truth Matters, So Does the Examiner You Choose
Connect with Mr. David Goldberg, founder of Executive Protection Group and a Virginia State-Licensed, Advanced Board-Certified Polygraph Examiner. With over 30 years of combined experience in investigative work and polygraph science, Mr. Goldberg is trusted by clients across the country for his professionalism, compassion, and unmatched expertise.
Based in Virginia Beach, we proudly serve clients not only across Virginia but throughout the country. Mr. Goldberg is highly sought after by individuals and professionals nationwide and is available to travel for private, on-site polygraph examinations in all matters of importance.
At Executive Protection Group Polygraph Service, our mission is simple: to eliminate doubt, uncover the truth, and provide you with the clarity and confidence to move forward.
Take the first step toward truth, resolution, and freedom—with Executive Protection Group Polygraph Service.
To learn more about how we can support you, visit our website or call today to schedule your private, professional polygraph examination.
Because when the truth matters most, so does the examiner you choose.
