mother wants me to take lie detector

[Jared]

So, how messed up is that? needless to say, Im not too happy about it. She was robbed of 50k in jewelry while out of town, left the alarm off and a door unlocked by accident, so her 2 sons and my wife are the top suspects, because she is "convinced it is an inside job." Reluctantly, Ive agreed to a lie detector, though Im pretty suspicious of their effectiveness. I don't feel like Ill be too nervous, Im telling the truth, but there is a lot at stake. My relationship with her is going to be pretty rocky after this, who wouldn't be extremely offended? Im going to be really angry if I fail the test, because then Ill have to defend myself the rest of my life.

What are the chances I self incriminate myself if Im innocent? Am I just at the whim of the test taker? Ive found so many experts in the field of psychology who highly suggest avoiding these 'tests' if you can, so I really don't want to. But my crazy mom says Ill be assumed guilty if I don't take the test, which is pretty messed up.

[George W. Maschke]

Jared,

Polygraphy has no scientific basis. As such, it isn't possible to meaningfully calculate the odds of an innocent person wrongly failing, but the best available field research would suggest about 50-50 odds. You would indeed be at the whim of the polygraph operator.

See our free book, The Lie Behind the Lie Detector, for a thorough debunking of polygraphy.

Polygraph "testing" is demeaning and degrading. If I were in your shoes, I would refuse the polygraph and encourage the others to also refuse.

You can show your mother the material available on this site. If you e-mail me, I could send you some additional material that may be helpful. In addition, your mother is welcome to contact me to discuss why a trial-by-polygraph is a bad idea (and waste of money).

[Aunty Agony]

My relationship with her is going to be pretty rocky after this.

Aunty has the feeling that it has been rocky for a long time.

You should tell your mother that you will agree to a polygraph exam to prove you are innocent only if she will agree to a DNA test to prove she is your mother.

I also think that anyone who is asked to pass a polygraph exam to prove his innocence should consider two inescapable truths:

1. The polygraph lie detector is junk science and is no better than a coin toss.  It is poisonous to true justice because lazy police and vicious prosecutors can pretend to believe in it.

2. Anyone who makes a accusation based on flimsy or absent evidence is sure to have a heavy emotional investment in the guilt of the accused.  He (or she) will believe a lie detector test only if it indicates guilt, and will find an excuse to toss it out if it indicates innocence.

[Jared]

Jared,

Polygraphy has no scientific basis. As such, it isn't possible to meaningfully calculate the odds of an innocent person wrongly failing, but the best available field research would suggest about 50-50 odds. You would indeed be at the whim of the polygraph operator.

See our free book, The Lie Behind the Lie Detector, for a thorough debunking of polygraphy.

Polygraph "testing" is demeaning and degrading. If I were in your shoes, I would refuse the polygraph and encourage the others to also refuse.

You can show your mother the material available on this site. If you e-mail me, I could send you some additional material that may be helpful. In addition, your mother is welcome to contact me to discuss why a trial-by-polygraph is a bad idea (and waste of money).

Id appreciate that, please email me at jleemink@yahoo.com