Family relations will get worse! Polygraph for cheating: whether to check the spouse – what the expert says

Matrimonial infidelity takes the second place among household applications to the polygraph. Konstantin Dadkov, polygraphologist, deputy director of the Forensic Expert Colleague, told in the project “Face to Face” on ONT.by why he considers such inspections a controversial idea, what the device actually shows and why the result does not always put an end to the dispute.

How often do they come

According to the expert, applications for a polygraph are divided into three groups.

“This is a judicial procedure, when the examination is appointed either by the court or by the body conducting the proceedings, the preliminary investigation body. The second is when they apply for an opinion to provide the parties to the court by referral of a lawyer. And the third is when people want to find out something out of court, he says.

The latter include adultery, conflicts, and violation of family traditions. Either in the pre-trial order, the so-called screening checks are also carried out, that is, when hiring, or when transferring to a managerial position, Konstantin Dadkov notes.

Inspections on criminal cases occupy more than half, household – “significantly less than half”. Among extrajudicial appeals, the majority are victims of fraudsters, and in second place are just adultery.

Why the expert does not advise to go to the polygraph

The decision of the couple to check infidelity on the polygraph, the guest of the program considers an attempt to shift the choice to an outsider.

“In any case, in the relationship of two adults, the third is always superfluous,” says Konstantin Dadkov.

According to his logic, if the spouses agree in advance that upon confirmation of infidelity they divorce, and if they remain together, then one of them has already made some decision.

“Thus, they actually shift their responsibility to some external specialist,” the expert says.

What will happen to the relationship

The result of the check, according to the guest, does not change the main thing: "Family relations after a polygraph test will always deteriorate.".

He explains that one spouse may be offended by deception, and the other, even if innocent, by being brought to a polygraph. He calls the procedure unpleasant psychologically.

There is no doubt about it: “In addition, the jealous will still require the next confirmation after a while.”.

Can you trust the result

The expert estimates the reliability of the method at about 90%, but with the condition: this is subject to all methodological requirements for the room, device and work of a specialist. The rest he calls errors of method. The main limitation, he said, is what the device measures:

“The polygraph does study stress, not deception. And deception is interpreted by a specialist, the guest of the program claims.

Therefore, in the forensic examination, one fact is confirmed by several methods, at least three, or better about five.

The story of the niece of the gypsy baron is the most difficult case in the career of a polygraphologist, read in our material.

How does the check go

A person is in a chair less than half the time, 20 to 40% of the total screening time. First comes the introduction of questions. If the interviewee is the customer, the questions are agreed. The polygraph examiner is obliged to discuss all questions before starting the study. The person consents to both verification and video recording. Then there is psychological testing and a conversation that takes longer than sitting on a polygraph.

Nervous at the same time is normal: “Worrying in front of a polygraph is normal,” concluded Konstantin Dadkov.

Watch the full program release: