Counselling
POLYGRAPH
Trust only movement. Life happens at the level of events, not of words. Trust movement. – Alfred Adler
The most painful part for the partners of sex addicts is “the lies”. One reason the lies cut so deeply is that they punctuate the betrayal as deliberate, calculated, covert, purposeful, negligent, and personal. No matter how many times a recovering addict or therapist may say that the acting out had nothing to do with them, it is difficult to not internalize this idea when the pain is experienced as absolutely personal.
Betrayal, after all, is a violation of trust perpetrated by someone you are attached to; it is perpetrated by someone who openly vowed to love, protect, cherish, and be faithful to you. It isn’t surprising then that most of the partners experience trauma post discovering that they have been deceived by the person they expected to be able to trust the most.
Sexual betrayal and deceit are incredibly debilitating to one’s sense of self and security, and can cause one to question everything, including one’s perception of reality or ‘gut’. Research has depicted that betrayal trauma is associated with physical symptoms and mistrust more than other types of trauma. Subsequently, re-establishing safety and trust is essential if the relationship is to have any chance of surviving and if the partner is to heal. Because betrayal wounds go deep into the human psyche, healing interventions must address trust wounds on an equally deep level.
Polygraph testing is one type of intervention that has helped several couples gain a base of trust and accountability in early recovery.
A polygraph test is a procedure that uses computerized equipment to measure physiological responses during an interview, usually consisting of four questions about past behavior and/or a prepared disclosure document. Tests are conducted by a trained polygrapher who understands how to administer and analyze polygraph data and who adheres to the ethical standards of the American Polygraph Association.
Today, polygraph tests seek to assert fidelity and sobriety. These days polygraph testing has gained widespread popularity as clinicians and treatment centers recognize its benefits to both the partner and the recovering addict. In my clinical practice, most partners choose to include polygraph testing in a safety or treatment plan when presented with the choice to do so. Polygraph testing can help in separating the chaos and gaslighting until one has rebuilt sureness in their internal system.
Research on polygraph testing in sex addiction recovery reveals that 46.7% of partners found the results confirmed what their partner had already told them, 20% reported the results helped them trust or begin to trust their partners again, and 26.7% reported the results overall helped their relationship. Given the severity of distress most couples are experiencing when they seek treatment, these are highly beneficial in the early stages of recovery.
- Provides a way for the truth to be obtained.
- Imparts early recovery work with an added measure of accountability.
- Helps restore one’s own sense of ‘gut’ by affirming what is known.
- Validates the partner’s sense that something was not right prior to discovery and reassures the partner that they were not wrong or crazy.
- Helps re – establish safety.
- Provides an indicator of the addict’s commitment to recovery and their intention in working on the relationship and themselves.
- Provides a way to restore trust with their partner.
- Provides a way to rule out behavior he or she may be suspected of being involved in.
- Encourages a more thoroughly evaluated and prepared disclosure document.
- Increases accountability to self, partner, marriage/ relationship, and the treatment.
- Provides a fallback when the partner is triggered and begins to question if everything about the sexual acting out is known to them.
- Speeds up recovery work by coming clean about the severity of the addiction.
The word polygraph comes from Greek word meaning “many writings.” It denotes the multiple tracings that polygraphs display.The word can be traced to mid-19th century scientific writings regarding a device for recording various channels of physiological activity for medical purposes. Today polygraph almost always refers to the device used for truth testing. The polygraph is a scientific instrument that records and displays physiological responses to test items. Modern instrumentation is computerized and includes specialized software to help the examiner.
Today a polygraph records five or more channels of physiological data. Two corrugated tubes are placed around the body, one just above the heart and the other over the stomach to detect motion associated with breathing. Changes in skin moisture are monitored with sensors placed on the fingers or palms. Pulse and relative blood pressure are detected using a standard blood pressure cuff placed on the arm. Many instruments also record changes in blood vessel dilation using a finger sensor and all polygraphs now include sensors to detect body movement. Each component is very sensitive to bodily changes. From the beginning to the end of the test, a person’s body emits physiological data that will be later reviewed by the polygraph examiner to determine if the examinee was telling the truth or was deceptive
Yes, the test is completely confidential. Disclosure of the results is limited to those listed in an agreement signed by the examinee and the examiner prior to the examination unless otherwise specified by law.
Most polygraph examinations take between 90 and 120 minutes, the majority of which entails a standardized interview before the testing phase.
Yes, all questions are reviewed with the examinee prior to any polygraph testing.
Everyone who takes a polygraph examination is nervous. It is expected. As everyone knows, anxiety can elevate one’s heart rate, blood pressure and other physiological functions. During polygraph testing, however, this heightened state becomes the examinee’s normal pattern. Having a higher blood pressure does not cause a person to fail a polygraph examination. Examiners are only interested in changes to the person’s normal pattern.
It is true that all things made by man can be defeated. The biggest challenge for beating a polygraph, however, is that it entails a significant risk of detection. Recent research shows some evidence that the use of these methods reduces their chances of passing the test.
There are several polygraph approaches and applications, the US National Research Council, median accuracy was placed between 85% and 90% for event-specific testing or testing on single issues. Subsequent research that focused only on techniques depicted that they are slightly above 90% accuracy.
Conditions that would render a person unsuitable:
- Active psychosis
- Severe developmental impairments
- Drug or alcohol induced impairment
- Dementia
- Anyone who is not able to consent to participate in the examination
- Anyone under the age of consent
- Anyone who is unable to remain seated and still for seven minutes at a time.
- Anyone in extreme distress
- Health conditions that preclude the placement of the polygraph sensors