LGBTQ Concerns in Lie Detection
A computer does not care where you are from or what you look like or who you love. It will only determine whether you are lying or not. Nothing else.
By Eliza Sanders, Marketing –
Andrew Goldstein, a polygraph examiner specializing in cases of spousal infidelity, recently reported to qnotes the increasing number of LGBTQ members coming in for lie detection exams. For any person experiencing doubt or trepidation in their relationship, lie detection is often a means of giving peace of mind and eradicating certain fears. He says that Valentine’s Day is particularly hard, and he usually sees an increase in interest during that time.
During one interview with a client, he said he was caught off guard when the man had to correct him in stating that it was not his wife he was having problems with, but his husband. Goldstein has since adjusted his process. Initially, gay or lesbian participants were hesitant, fearing bias and discrimination. Goldstein has made it very clear that he holds no such prejudice, warmly welcoming people of any background to receive the benefits his tests offer.
When it comes to a polygraph, a well-established form of lie detection, bias is a legitimate concern. It measures things like pulse, blood pressure, heart rate and sweat- all physical outputs that could become agitated not just by lying, but by any fear or discomfort the examinee might experience. Therefore, if they felt bullied or harassed by the way a question was asked, it could increase the likelihood of them receiving inaccurate results. I must emphasize that any test given in professionalism and without personal agenda should always give the examinee a fair outcome. However, it is hard to feel assured in every instance.
EyeDetect® is a new form of lie detection that addresses this concern. While a person would proctor the test to ensure compliance, the exam is completely administered via computer. The examinee responds to a series of true or false questions by clicking a mouse. The computer analyzes data collected from involuntary responses in their eyes and uses an algorithm to give them a score. It significantly removes the human factor and therefore, attains more objectivity.
It may sound too cold or pragmatic to entrust a computer to evaluate a romantic relationship. But consider this: the computer does not care where you are from or what you look like or who you love. It will only determine whether you are lying or not. Nothing else.
Matters of the heart can feel messy, and clarity might seem impossible. Greater clarity is available through unbiased information- and what could be more unbiased than a computer?
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