Normal Topic Infidelity testing (Read 9932 times)
Paste Member Name in Quick Reply Box MrAugust
New User
*
Offline



Posts: 12
Joined: Nov 20th, 2005
Infidelity testing
Nov 21st, 2005 at 11:21pm
Mark & QuoteQuote Print Post  
Hi all - I'm new here and don't mean to jump into the argument for or against polygraph testing - I really have no clue about polygraphs other than what I read - I just need honest opinions.

I'm concerned that my wife may have cheated on me.  Last week I suggested that she take a polygraph exam to test for infidelity.  Without boring you with paragraphs of details, she finally agreed to it.

I realize that many of you are against polygraph testing for elected government officials, folks trying to join the police force, etc. - but what about a simple test to determine yes or no whether or not my wife has been faithful ?   

Can a polygraph test with a decent examiner at least determine something like that ?  My wife is not the type of person who would take a crash course on learning countermeasures to beat the exam, so I'm not really too worried about that - I'm just wondering if given a normal routine exam with a licensed examiner, could I expect an accurate result for something like this.

Thanks in advance.
  
Back to top
 
IP Logged
 
Paste Member Name in Quick Reply Box mustbaliar
Senior User
***
Offline



Posts: 53
Joined: Jun 17th, 2005
Re: Infidelity testing
Reply #1 - Nov 21st, 2005 at 11:48pm
Mark & QuoteQuote Print Post  
MrAugust,

The polygraph will not help you in this particular situation (or ANY situation).  It will not prove or disprove anything.  Your wife could "fail" while answering honestly, or she could "pass" while answering falsely.  Many people often jump at the chance to take a polygraph because they think it will clear their names, but all too often it backfires due to the unreliable and invalid nature of the "test."  What are you prepared to do if she "passes" or "fails"??  What do you believe more-- your own wife or some piece of junk machinery operated by a scam artist?  You may be better off hiring a counselor to help you and your wife through your problems.

Good luck.
  
Back to top
 
IP Logged
 
Paste Member Name in Quick Reply Box George W. Maschke
Global Moderator
*****
Offline


Make-believe science yields
make-believe security.

Posts: 6220
Joined: Sep 29th, 2000
Re: Infidelity testing
Reply #2 - Nov 21st, 2005 at 11:55pm
Mark & QuoteQuote Print Post  
Polygraphy has no scientific basis, and the results are unreliable in any situation.

If your wife takes the polygraph and fails, she could very well be a false positive -- a very common result. On the other hand, if she passes, it wouldn't prove she was telling the truth, either.

I suggest that you download our e-book, The Lie Behind the Lie Detector and that you (and your wife) both read it before going through with any planned polygraph. Hopefully, it will convince you both that it's a very bad idea.
  

George W. Maschke
I am generally available in the chat room from 3 AM to 3 PM Eastern time.
Tel/SMS: 1-202-810-2105 (Please use Signal Private Messenger or WhatsApp to text or call.)
E-mail/iMessage/FaceTime: antipolygraph.org@protonmail.com
Wire: @ap_org
Threema: A4PYDD5S
Personal Statement: "Too Hot of a Potato"
Back to top
IP Logged
 
Paste Member Name in Quick Reply Box EosJupiter
Especially Senior User
*****
Offline


But of Course ...

Posts: 483
Location: Always Out There ......
Joined: Feb 28th, 2005
Re: Infidelity testing
Reply #3 - Nov 22nd, 2005 at 8:30am
Mark & QuoteQuote Print Post  
Mr August

Listen to Georges advice and blow off this polygraph nonsense.  Or SUffer the consequences of being railroaded and any chance of resurrecting your relationship. Trust is earned and if your significant other is willing spend your money on relationship counseling, and not lining some polygraphers pocket with your money.    good luck
  

Theory into Reality !!
Back to top
 
IP Logged
 
Paste Member Name in Quick Reply Box MrAugust
New User
*
Offline



Posts: 12
Joined: Nov 20th, 2005
Re: Infidelity testing
Reply #4 - Nov 23rd, 2005 at 12:27am
Mark & QuoteQuote Print Post  
Well, I took a look at the book - well the first 25 pages of it anyway... and to be honest, after reading what the Congressional OTA said in 1983, along with what the Nat'l Research Council Committee said in 2002, and with everything else I've read and/or been told, my gut tells me that the accuracy rate in my situation for testing my wife would be about 90%.  I'm OK with that.  I'm a poker player so gambling is not new to me. =)   She is not going to learn about countermeasures and would likely fail miserably trying.   

I respect what you guys are saying, though, about how testing 1000 people can falsely condemn 50 of them.  I'm a math guy, I get that.

Good luck with the site and thanks for you comments.
  
Back to top
 
IP Logged
 
Paste Member Name in Quick Reply Box Drew Richardson
Especially Senior User
*****
Offline



Posts: 427
Joined: Sep 7th, 2001
Re: Infidelity testing
Reply #5 - Nov 23rd, 2005 at 12:47am
Mark & QuoteQuote Print Post  
Mr. August,

If your wife is innocent with regard to the infidelity issues you are concerned about, you can proceed under the assumption that she will have roughly a flip-of-a-coin chance of being found non-deceptive about those issues with a control question test (CQT) polygraph exam.
  
Back to top
 
IP Logged
 
Paste Member Name in Quick Reply Box MrAugust
New User
*
Offline



Posts: 12
Joined: Nov 20th, 2005
Re: Infidelity testing
Reply #6 - Nov 24th, 2005 at 1:19am
Mark & QuoteQuote Print Post  
Quote:
Mr. August,

If your wife is innocent with regard to the infidelity issues you are concerned about, you can proceed under the assumption that she will have roughly a flip-of-a-coin chance of being found non-deceptive about those issues with a control question test (CQT) polygraph exam.



Coin flip ?  C'mon now ... the report that I was asked to read even mentions that the accuracy rate is much higher than chance.

I realize the accuracy rate is too low to make it useful for testing thousands of potential police officers, etc. - but please don't skew the numbers.
  
Back to top
 
IP Logged
 
Paste Member Name in Quick Reply Box Drew Richardson
Especially Senior User
*****
Offline



Posts: 427
Joined: Sep 7th, 2001
Re: Infidelity testing
Reply #7 - Nov 24th, 2005 at 6:01pm
Mark & QuoteQuote Print Post  
MrAugust,

Perhaps you might care to read a brief statement that I prepared some time ago that relates to why a CQT polygraph exam would not be expected to be an accurate discriminator of truth and falsehood (particularly in the case of the innocent (non-deceptive) examinee).  The general thrust of this statement has been testified to in court on several occasions to the benefit of clients (both prosecution and defense in criminal matters and plaintiffs and defendants in civil/administrative matters) seeking to discredit this type of polygraph exam. (http://antipolygraph.org/articles/article-028.shtml). ; If you are truly interested in the subject, I would suggest the most beneficial use of your time would be to read Bill Iacono's article entitled 'Forensic "Lie Detection": Procedures without Scientific Basis' (http://antipolygraph.org/articles/article-018.shtml). ; Both of the aforementioned should give you some insight into why this methodology would be expected to have precious limited (if any) validity and theoretical basis for practice (even) in the ABSENCE of properly applied countermeasures.  As I understand your situation, it is your wife (not you) who may take a polygraph exam.  You might care to share the previously listed reading material with her.  Regards...


  
Back to top
 
IP Logged
 
Paste Member Name in Quick Reply Box MrAugust
New User
*
Offline



Posts: 12
Joined: Nov 20th, 2005
Re: Infidelity testing
Reply #8 - Nov 27th, 2005 at 12:31am
Mark & QuoteQuote Print Post  
Quote:
MrAugust,

Perhaps you might care to read a brief statement that I prepared some time ago that relates to why a CQT polygraph exam would not be expected to be an accurate discriminator of truth and falsehood (particularly in the case of the innocent (non-deceptive) examinee).  The general thrust of this statement has been testified to in court on several occasions to the benefit of clients (both prosecution and defense in criminal matters and plaintiffs and defendants in civil/administrative matters) seeking to discredit this type of polygraph exam. (http://antipolygraph.org/articles/article-028.shtml).  If you are truly interested in the subject, I would suggest the most beneficial use of your time would be to read Bill Iacono's article entitled 'Forensic "Lie Detection": Procedures without Scientific Basis' (http://antipolygraph.org/articles/article-018.shtml).  Both of the aforementioned should give you some insight into why this methodology would be expected to have precious limited (if any) validity and theoretical basis for practice (even) in the ABSENCE of properly applied countermeasures.  As I understand your situation, it is your wife (not you) who may take a polygraph exam.  You might care to share the previously listed reading material with her.  Regards...




I've already read plenty on control question tests and why folks don't like them.  Again, every theory I've read, including documentation from this site, implies or states that the accuracy rate is much higher than chance when there aren't countermeasures or drugs involved.
  
Back to top
 
IP Logged
 
Paste Member Name in Quick Reply Box Miss October
Guest


Re: Infidelity testing
Reply #9 - Sep 22nd, 2014 at 12:00pm
Mark & QuoteQuote Print Post  
Hello everyone I'm due to take a lie detector test next week on infidelity I wish I could get out of it but I can't because my husband already paid the 600 bucks to take the test... Is there any helpful hints from any of you because I really have to take it and I don't want to lose my husband if this dumb test back fires
  
Back to top
 
IP Logged
 
Infidelity testing

Please type the characters that appear in the image. The characters must be typed in the same order, and they are case-sensitive.
Open Preview Preview

You can resize the textbox by dragging the right or bottom border.
Insert Hyperlink Insert FTP Link Insert Image Insert E-mail Insert Media Insert Table Insert Table Row Insert Table Column Insert Horizontal Rule Insert Teletype Insert Code Insert Quote Edited Superscript Subscript Insert List /me - my name Insert Marquee Insert Timestamp No Parse
Bold Italicized Underline Insert Strikethrough Highlight
                       
Change Text Color
Insert Preformatted Text Left Align Centered Right Align
resize_wb
resize_hb







Max 200000 characters. Remaining characters:
Text size: pt
More Smilies
View All Smilies
Collapse additional features Collapse/Expand additional features Smiley Wink Cheesy Grin Angry Sad Shocked Cool Huh Roll Eyes Tongue Embarrassed Lips Sealed Undecided Kiss Cry
Attachments More Attachments Allowed file types: txt doc docx ics psd pdf bmp jpe jpg jpeg gif png swf zip rar tar gz 7z odt ods mp3 mp4 wav avi mov 3gp html maff pgp gpg
Maximum Attachment size: 500000 KB
Attachment 1:
X