#Operational psychodiagnostics
Operational psychodiagnostics of personality during a psychophysiological study using a polygraph.
The need to quickly navigate the psychological characteristics of a person is one of the most difficult aspects of the work of a polygraph examiner.
In a short period of time, he needs to understand how to interact with the subject in order to choose the most effective behavior strategy, qualitatively and effectively solve the task.
In particular, to be able to conduct a pre-test conversation in such a way as to win over the subject, motivate him to be sincere in communication, and adapt to his individual personality traits.
Moreover, understanding the psychological essence of the subject could allow for a comprehensive analysis of his behavior as a whole, and, finally, to complete the testing procedure without conflict, which is also important.
All this requires specialized knowledge and skills from the polygraph examiner, which, unfortunately, the person conducting a special psychophysiological study using a polygraph does not always have.
In addition, the lack of time that usually accompanies testing creates certain difficulties in assessing the personality of the subject, which does not always allow for the effective use of even existing knowledge and skills.
An attempt to solve this problem led us to the idea of creating a computerized psychological express — diagnostics and behavioral prognosis of the personality type of a person who came to the survey, the main goal of which is to make the behavior of the subject more understandable and, as a result, predictable for the specialist.
For this purpose, a specialized software module for operational psychodiagnostics was developed, which is currently built into the Diana computer polygraph.
This module is a kind of virtual partner, designed, on the one hand, to facilitate the work of the polygraph examiner, and on the other hand, to make it more accurate and efficient.
The history of mankind and science knows many attempts to predict human behavior based on some external or other signs.
Here is the division of people into phlegmatic, choleric, sanguine, and melancholic, the idea of which belongs to Hippocrates, and C. Lombroso with his theory of physiognomic signs of potential criminals, and E. Kretschmer, who studied the connection between body structure and character, and many — many others.
Despite the contradictory attitude to attempts to systematize in any way the reasons for all the diversity and uniqueness of human behavior, the idea that these differences exist and can be classified does not leave specialists studying the so-called «human factor».
S. Freud was the first to talk about the presence of structure in the psyche.
He was the first to introduce the concepts of consciousness (ego), preconsciousness (super-ego) and subconsciousness (id).
This idea was developed and improved by his student K. Jung, who, in turn, noticed that the structure of the psyche manifests itself differently in different people.
This formed the basis of the classification of psychological types he created.
He discovered that people differ in the way they perceive the world, themselves, and their connection with this world, that is, as K. Jung defined it, “mental attitudes,” and designated them as introversion and extroversion.
Quoting a classic, we recall that “Extroversion is, to a certain extent, a shift of interest outward, from the subject to the object,”….
Introversion, in turn, is characterized by the fact that “the motivating force belongs, first of all, to the subject, while the object has the greatest secondary significance.” (K. Jung). At the same time, he noted that “each person has common mechanisms, extroversion and introversion, and only the relative predominance of one or the other determines the type.”
In other words, there are no absolutely pure introverts and extroverts in nature. However, there is always a «balance» in one direction or another, which ultimately allows us to be classified as extroverts or introverts.
Working with patients, K. Jung noticed that there are some patterns in what information they most often operate with.
Some people find it easier to work with evidence and conclusions (logic), some with people's feelings (emotions), some are more accustomed to relying on their premonitions (intuition), and some are closer to the perception and analysis of external and internal stimuli (sensations).
This observation allowed him to identify four basic functions in the structure of the psyche: thinking, feeling, intuition and sensations, and divide them into classes:
rational: feeling (good — bad, beautiful — ugly) and thinking (right — wrong)
irrational: sensation (here and now)
intuition (we'll live — we'll see).
The ideas of C. Jung found their followers, and, having combined his typology and informatics, Ausra Augustinaviciute, a Lithuanian scientist, created a new scientific direction, which she called socionics, or, in the concept of R. K. Sedykh, information psychoanalysis.
The proposed system made it possible to divide people into 16 types according to four pairs of characteristics, thereby determining the leading methods of energy-information exchange.
Note that within the framework of one type, a variety of characterological features is possible, but the methods of information exchange will remain, to a certain extent, a constant qualifying feature.
That is, representatives of one type can be brought up differently, have a different structure of needs and methods of satisfying them, which can sometimes create the illusion that these are completely different people.
At the same time, they will remain the owners of an identical information matrix, knowledge of which will definitely allow us to analyze and predict their behavior.
In other words, this typology does not analyze or describe a specific personality.
It describes a person's intellectual abilities and potential, but it is in no way a quantitative measurement of intelligence.
The so-called «information metabolism», that is, the way the psyche assimilates, processes and transmits information, is a reflection of precisely the structural differences in the characteristics of people's perception and thinking, as well as an analysis of how these structures manifest themselves in inclinations, abilities, and, in general, in behavioral reactions.
All this does not mean that representatives of the same type will be as similar to each other as twins.
Their characters, age or education may not match, but in similar, for example, stressful situations, they will act in a similar way, relying on their leading, well-developed mental functions.
Thus, the typology we have chosen is based on four dichotomous features:
- Extroversion — introversion;
- Logic — ethics (feelings);
- Intuition — sensorics (sensations);
- Rationality — irrationality.
The listed pairs are independent of each other, as a result of which 16 variants of their combination are possible.
At the moment, there are many approaches to the study and practical application of this typology.
To date, a large number of different descriptions of representatives of socionic types have been created. Domestic and foreign scientists have thoroughly studied the possible options for interaction between them.
Our task does not include familiarizing readers with the entire variety of typological characteristics and terms used to designate the names of types.
Let's just say that the most widespread are scientific names that reflect all four dominant features.
Based on the rule of A. Augustinavichute to begin the designation of the type in case of its rationality with the rational feature — logic or ethics, and in case of the irrationality of the type with the irrational function — intuition or sensorics, we get, for example, the name «logical — sensory introvert», or «intuitive — ethical extrovert», and get rid of the need to additionally designate the function of rationality — irrationality. Here it should be noted that calling a person a «logician», we do not deny him «ethics», that is, the emotional component.We are only stating the fact that he has a better developed ability to logically analyze a situation than to react emotionally to it, which means that when interacting with the surrounding information space, he will make decisions based on his most well-developed function — that is, logic.
Thus, we have determined by combining which basic methods of working with information one or another type is formed.
Knowing the characteristics of each of them's reactions and interactions with the environment, we get the opportunity, firstly, to determine the strengths and weaknesses of representatives of different types, and secondly, to predict their behavior in various situations, including in the case of passing a test using a polygraph.
During the development of the operational psychodiagnostics module, we proceeded from the fact that it is this information about the person sitting in front of the polygraph examiner that he needs.
Knowing the strengths of the subject can help to avoid the «missing the target» error, since it is by using his most developed qualities that he will try to manipulate the polygraph examiner, and thus counteract the test.
Knowledge of weaknesses, in turn, is needed to minimize the likelihood of a «false alarm» error, since the specialist's awareness of the vulnerable spots in the subject's psyche will allow him to more subtly differentiate his behavioral reactions.
Including, if necessary, to convince to give a confession (precisely convince, not force!).
In the process of working with the module, the type of the subject is first determined.
For this purpose, a modification of the test, chosen by us in the course of numerous studies, has been introduced into the “Psychodiagnostics” module, which allows us to quickly determine the psychological type of the respondent.
To do this, the polygraph examiner is recommended to offer the subject a choice between statements that are opposite in meaning during the pre-test conversation, the purpose of which is to identify his leading mental functions.
These statements are displayed on the monitor screen one by one.
After making a number of such choices, the test is completed and then, if necessary, the specialist can obtain information about the representative of this type and recommendations for working with him at any stage of testing.
Note that, although at the diagnostic stage there is a possibility of receiving an incorrect choice from the subject, this probability is actually very small.
This is explained by the fact that under the conditions of the test, the subject, not feeling any danger in the proposed questions, will obviously answer truthfully, in order to at least appear absolutely sincere here.
Nevertheless, for the most accurate diagnosis of the personality type, it is necessary to clearly give instructions to the subject so that he clearly understands how he should choose this or that statement.
The effectiveness of the use of the recommendations received will depend on how correctly the polygraph examiner conducts this initial stage, and they, in turn, contain information on how to communicate with a representative of this type during a pre-test conversation in the case of screening or investigation.
What are the nuances of communicating with the subject during the presentation of tests. Is it possible to obtain a confession from the subject, how to achieve a state of loss of control over emotions in him, and then return him to equilibrium again.
This program has already been tested not only at the Center for Applied Psychophysiology, but also among other specialists working in the field of lie detection.
For clarity, we will provide a typical case of using this approach from practice.
The company received a request to conduct a polygraph test to identify the source of an information leak in one of the large commercial companies in Moscow.
The suspects included persons with access to classified information.
During the testing, the specialist used the capabilities of the new module «Psychodiagnostics».
By asking diagnostic test questions during the pre-test conversation, he received information about the psychological characteristics of each of the subjects.
We offer you a psychological portrait of a person who was involved in an information leak.
Strengths:
Optimist.
High speed of nervous processes, so he quickly reacts to any changes.
Insightful.
Able to firmly defend his interests.
Abstract logic is developed.
Capable of taking risks, while relying on his intuition. Maximally demonstrates his qualities in extreme situations. Able to mobilize in order to overcome difficulties.
Weaknesses:
Afraid of being funny.
Does not attach importance to details (detailed analysis is a weak point).
Is not assiduous.
Inconstant.
Poorly sensitive to the attitude of others towards him, dependent on their opinion of him.
He is a gambling addict.
Sources of stress:
The waiting situation.
The need to change your plans due to unforeseen circumstances. Negative and vague emotions towards him. Doesn't like being stared at. Can't stand being deceived.
1. Pre-test interview:
Biography:
Explain to him in detail everything that will happen during the examination. Motivate him to be frank by saying that this is necessary so that the questions asked are as clear and comfortable as possible for him personally.
Screening:
Create a sense of informality for him. You should be his «guy», to whom he can tell everything about himself without fear.
Investigation:
He has a poor memory for details, so he may get confused. Periodically ask him again about what he has already told you.
Following the recommendations, the specialist managed to notice inconsistencies in the subject's story at the pre-test interview stage.
2. Intra-test interview:
May have difficulty sitting still for a long time (has an easily excitable nervous system). Be sure to use tremor sensors
3. Post-test interview:
Recommendations for obtaining confessions:
Try to convince him to confess emotionally, but without direct accusations (using hints). Emphasize that this is the most appropriate thing to do in this situation. If he can't stand a long, intense stare — use this as psychological pressure.
Recommendations for creating a state of loss of control:
Don't give him a chance to figure out how you really feel about him. Be both a «good» and «bad» investigator. Hint that the people whose interests he is currently defending are actually deceiving him. If possible, back it up with facts (even if it is a bluff). Make sure your «legend» looks logical.
A way to restore emotional balance:
Note that he looks good. Tell him that at first glance you realized that he is a decent person.
Using recommendations on how to create a state of loss of control over oneself and obtain a confession helped the polygraph examiner provoke the subject to «turn himself in.» As a result, the source of the information leak was detected, and the task set before the specialist was successfully completed.
Thus, the situation presented above clearly demonstrates the capabilities of the operational psychodiagnostics module used in the Diana polygraph and the potential for its use to improve the efficiency and quality of polygraph tests.