Polygraphic Exams in the Age of Misinformation: Truth Still Matters

Key Takeaways:

• AI technology is often used to create fake proof in order to cover up lies.
• A polygraph exam is a tool used to uncover fact from fiction, but it should only be used as a supporting tool, not a final verdict of guilt or innocence.
• Evidence should be gathered and saved to support the results of the polygraph exam.
• The results of a polygraph exam can be heavy, and the emotional fallout devastating. Consider therapy or counseling to deal with the outcome and figure out the next steps.

Since the dawn of time, relationship conflicts have been difficult to resolve, but communication and changed behavior have usually been the key to positive resolution.

Today, arguments are often “won” through technological means. Sadly, the lines of belief have been blurred with the emergence of AI technology, marking a point where a polygraph exam may be the only way to separate fact from fiction.

More than ever, couples find themselves on shaky ground, misled by fake screenshots and doctored videos. In fact, the use of Artificial Intelligence has advanced to a point where a phone call, voice, or video may not necessarily be what you think.

The Cost of Digital Deception

The problem with AI manipulation is that we don’t often imagine what it looks like in our personal lives. When we think of AI misuse, we often imagine an overseas scammer trying to get a money order or bank transfer.

The reality is that the deception could come from the very individuals that we call friends, family, or our spouse. Examples of this are being seen more often, forcing court officials and law enforcement to focus more effort on verifying the authenticity of evidence used in personal matters.

Consider how cheating accusations could be disproved by using technology to make the accuser believe they are with someone who is faithful. How could that affect family life? The financial costs and potential health risks alone are enough to be a concern that requires addressing.

The world is full of people pretending to be someone they aren’t for the purpose of exploiting and taking advantage of others.

As the ability to create and mask footprints through the use of technology becomes easier, relationship polygraph exams have shifted from being used as a way to capture criminals to being used as a way to confirm the motives of a loved one. In fact, they may now be the only way to best determine the truth.

Liars tend to utilize every tool at their disposal. Those who believe they may be a victim in the situation should do the same.

Understanding How a Professional Polygraph Fits Into Your Relationship

Polygraphs help to determine fact and fiction, but they’re not a magic solution that uncovers everything at once. When two parties consent to a polygraph exam, it can be a highly accurate tool that aids in uncovering the truth.

For instance, imagine a scenario where a man sees suspicious activity from his business account and suspects that his wife is stealing money from him. He may be afraid that she is preparing to leave him, and wants to uncover the truth so that he’s not blindsided.

In a perfect world, having a conversation with her and taking her word at face value should be enough. Unfortunately, the real world doesn’t always go along with what we hope or wish for. To protect his business and uncover the truth of his relationship, he may need to resort to unconventional means and order a professional polygraph exam.

There are a number of scenarios for which a polygraph may be helpful, from cheating suspicions and uncovering the truth about someone’s past, to familial disputes, resolving abuse allegations, and more.

Steps for Couples to Take When Navigating Deception

It won’t always be easy to deal with suspicions of dishonesty and deception in a relationship, but uncovering the hard truth is worth the effort.

Collect Evidence

Screenshot any phone logs, text messages, images, or any details that could be important to discovering the facts you’re after.

While no test is 100% accurate, a polygraph test is considered to be one of the most accurate and effective ways of confirming the truth. That, along with your evidence, could help reveal the full picture.

Remember, there’s more than one side to every story, and although you may have your perceived “facts”, sharing all relevant information helps the examiner paint the full picture.

Communicate on Boundaries

While it is important to uncover the truth, relationships are meant to be built on trust. A polygraph exam is not something to be weaponized, but instead, a means to gain understanding and set the stage for communicating the next steps.

When both parties agree to take the test with a qualified examiner, they should also discuss the parameters of the questions together. This is a scary process for both parties, and finding a common ground prior to the exam can help alleviate stress and make the process much more comfortable.

Prepare Yourself Mentally and Emotionally

Uncovering the truth of a deception is difficult, but facing someone that you’ve accused and is shown to be truthful could be just as painful.

For each party, there will be a different set of challenges that will need to be faced prior to and after the experience. There’s a mental and emotional toll that can weigh heavily on anyone taking a polygraph exam, as well as encouraging them to do so.

Trust may not be immediately reestablished, and in some cases, could be broken entirely. Attacking these issues head-on together with a licensed mental health professional could prove helpful in preserving the relationship.

The Bottom Line

You can’t afford to be in the dark with the person you’re intimately involved with. Trust, transparency, and teamwork are the keys to opening the doors of the future together.

How do you go about accomplishing goals when you aren’t clear about how many people are involved with the relationship? How do you plan finances when your partner has a secret bank account? What if your partner has a past that you were unaware of? How does that make you view them today?

Technology has allowed ways of burying the truth and replacing it with fabricated stories, but it can still be a helpful tool to uncover that truth and get to what’s real with the right applications.