Most of us are familiar with polygraph – or lie detector – testing. We’ve seen police administer polygraph tests to potential criminals in movies and television shows, hoping to prove their guilt by showing that they are lying. Sometimes lie detector tests even pop up on daytime talk shows when a husband wants to prove that his wife has been cheating with his best friend or some kind of similar situation. This secondary use is an example of a domestic polygraph test.
Though polygraph tests have been used to interrogate criminal suspects since at least the 1920s, domestic polygraph tests are a more recent phenomenon, starting only a few decades ago. Despite this, these kinds of tests are one of the strongest growing areas in polygraph testing, and the industry has really taken off in the last few years. Domestic polygraph tests can provide peace of mind for people in a relationship, helping to save your marriage by proving to your significant other that you really aren’t lying about an infidelity.
But today’s domestic polygraph tests expand way beyond cheating spouses. Polygraph tests are now being used to help with potential deceptions in all kinds of matters that may be causing tension, distrust, and stress in your family, such as:
- Child Support or Custody Issues
- Money Matters
- Theft or Fraud Accusations
- Pre-Marital Background Investigations
- Harassment Allegations
- Adolescent Problems
- Teen Delinquency
- Gambling Issues
- Sexual Activities on the Internet
- Sexual Misconduct Allegations
- Child Abuse Allegations
- Drug or Alcohol Usage Accusations
- Addiction Monitoring
In the past, people had to live under a cloud of doubt. Their family members had to take a leap of faith in order to trust their family member again. But today, with the new advances in polygraph testing, you can learn with a high degree of accuracy whether your partner, child, or other family member is being truthful. The knowledge has helped many families to let go of the past and start focusing fully on building a new future together. In fact, many therapists are now recommending them as part of the healing process for couples or families who are struggling with trust issues.
Finding the right company to perform your domestic polygraph tests can be tough, but there are many great examiners out there. Check to make sure that the person administering your polygraph test has been APA-trained, and that the test itself is being conducted to APA (American Polygraph Association) and ASTM International standards. If done correctly, domestic polygraph tests are 90 to 95% accurate. Also, beware companies or individuals trying to sell you on VSA (voice stress analysis), which has been determined to be unreliable by the U.S. government.
A licensed professional that provides domestic polygraph tests is not something to seek out lightly, and most of the pricing reflects that. Depending on the kind of testing you have done and the certification level of the examiner administering it, costs can run anywhere from $200 to more than $1500. You may find examiners who provide these services for less money, but remember that this is a test that will very likely affect the future of your family. It is worth the extra money to ensure that you’re getting a professional that offers the right conditions, supervision, and implementation for your domestic polygraph test.
Sources
- The Polygraph Museum
- Pulver Investigations
- Accredited Polygraph and Investigations, Inc.
- Upstate Investigators, LLC.