Women Participate in a Polygraph Test for Blind Date Interview

Women Participate in a Polygraph Test for Blind Date Interview
Feb 20, 2014 By eChinacities.com

Editor’s note: There are often debates surrounding whether love is a science or an art. Scientists and academics often try to quantify love as well as derive formulas for the perfect match. One high end match making agency in Hunan has taken this idea to a whole different level by making women participate in a polygraph test as a screening process for blind dates. Although controversial, participating in this process is still a choice; a choice which many women seem to have made. In this translated article, the journalist looks at this practice through the eyes of both sides.

“Have you ever cohabited with an ex-boyfriend?” The interview suddenly and unexpectedly throws out this provocative question to the woman being interviewed. This not your average interview. The woman’s finger is fit into a sensor clip and she is hooked up to a lie detector test. As she answers the question the redline on the polygraph test begins to slightly jump up and down.

Would you participate in a polygraph test in order to interview for a blind date? In Changsha’s Liuyang River Wedding Cultural Park, an event for single women was held featuring this unique kind of match-making tool. In order to participate in the use of this pre-selection tool for organized blind dates, interested women enrolled in smartphone app software and then were interviewed while being monitored by a lie detector test and a specialized skin test. 

Woman participating in a blind date polygraph test
Source: fashion.ifeng.com

After being hooked up to the sensor, female participants (like the woman in the red coat) are tested for changes in facial expression, heart rate, pulse and other reactions while the  polygraph results are displayed on the computer.

“This is not like a blind date interview; we’re more like spies being interrogated during a war,” one participant mused. The thought of battling with a lie detector sparked dispute between the different female participants, however many of them thought that the concept was fresh and interesting as it was similar to participating in a professional psychological evaluation. Over sixty women participated in the interviews yesterday. Out of those who interviewed, the finalists will participate in a sponsored blind date in Sanya, Hainan.

“Embarrassing” questions in the polygraph test

“On some questions, participants will try to lie or hide their true thoughts. When we ask questions we can observe their heartbeat and changes in mood in order to determine whether their answers are true or false.”

Dr. Cai was responsible for conducting the interviews and monitoring the polygraph. Cai told reporters that when a participant lies, their heartbeat and pulse will change and some even show signs of nervous sweating, changes in facial expression and more. Through the use of a polygraph test and the monitoring of the participates skin, pulse, blood pressure and other physiological changes, Cai is able to determine whether her answers are true or false.

When asked about the reasons behind her break up with her last boyfriend, Miss Zhang, while hooked up to the polygraph test, showed clear mood swings and nervousness and did not speak for a while. At the same time, the red line on the polygraph analyzer became volatile, moving up and down quickly. “I had previously only seen this kind of lie detector test in the movies, I was a little nervous and excited to be tested by it,” admitted Zhang.

Only rich men need apply

These interviews are hosted by a group of high-end marriage agencies. In addition to the use of the polygraph, general enrollment in the agencies’ program is also very high-tech. Men and women can apply to take part in mobile “marriage hunting” software. However, for male participants, the threshold is quite high: they need to have 500 million RMB worth of assets to be eligible. Women can download the app for free as long as they supply their information and real-name registration. Men and women both must possess a signed and stamped certificate proving that they are single.

Changsha resident Liu Yuan (pseudonym) participated in the agency’s interviews. She is thirty years old and attended a well-known foreign university. She is currently so busy with work that she had not been able to date or find a husband. “I just want to find a responsible and dutiful man. This platform gives more opportunities for contact with different men,” said Liu. However, her own economic status is not bad. When asked about the idea of looking for a “rich husband,” she said that she does not care about that but thinks that the idea of pre-approved and screened blind dates is more reliable.

Experts say finding love through a polygraph test is not realistic

In the end, how reliable is a polygraph test when used for blind dates and match-making? Is it ok to spy on a potential blind date’s deepest secrets?  Zhang Rui, the head of the agency says when looking at the tests results one can only see the small changes in mood apparent during the discussion of more sensitive topics. Overall, he noted that female participants in general are actually more candid in their interviews and try to hide less. Zhang Rui indicated that during the polygraph test, the participants may be asked personal or intimate questions, however the interviewers giving the test are also all women, the interviews are not recorded, and the participants are able to stop the interview if they would like to. “The polygraph test is not an invasion of privacy,” emphasized Zhang Rui.

However, experts believe that the use of lie detector tests in relation to blind dates is not reliable. Hu Rong from the National Register of Family and Marriage noted that a polygraph test is merely based on temporary fluctuations in mood and cannot be relied on to tell of the participants’ true emotional experiences. This cannot be measured by a single instrument. Marriage requires love and hard work. For two people to fall in love or be compatible they must have contact with each other. It is a cognitive process: happiness cannot be found through a simple test.

Source: fashion.ifeng.com

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Keywords: dating agency blind date polygraph Test for Blind date

7 Comments

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Guest2368048

Given the Chinese's face culture and the great number of money-eyed, amoral mainlanders who are willing to do anything for money and face (both sexes), and that lying is as natural as breathing to these ones, it isn't difficult to understand that someone came up with this idea. It is well known among the locals (if you are a seasoned expat you probably know it decades ago and not now) that "beautiful" girls from a few provinces (such as the infamous Guizhou "beauty" and not just Shanghai girls) are well known for treating their boyfriends or husband as prospects who they baited to become customers/husbands. The thing is, in their case, the more the better/secure --- they maintain "friendly relationships" with all of their ex'es, even after they are married by having frequent "friendly re-unions". Insurance policies to counter the uncertain future. If you can read the guys' personal experiences they wrote on the internet, how they were betrayed and cheated, how their present Guizhou girlfriend compete, framed, kicked their past girlfriend out, who was another Guizhou girl and also a friend of her initially, landed them, and maintain "cordial relationships" with her "ex"es... tons of them....maybe you are the one to ask your son's Guizhou's "beautiful goddess", the one who he has fallen head over heels for and swear she is genuinely in love with him, or that Shanghai one for that matter to take the test! :) Plenty more out there. Land of fakes and lies we are talking about. Not only here do you find all kinds of fake products but all kinds of "fake human" as well....Rupert Murdoch would probably agree with this one. Weird planet of free will but with consequences (known as karma to some).

Feb 21, 2014 19:02 Report Abuse

coineineagh

Very few women go into a relationship with plans of deception, so a polygraph is pointless. It's the unrealistic expectations that kill relationships, and Chinese women have those in abundance. Going on a blind date with 'certified rich' guys just adds another level to it all. A typical, smallminded concept for ensuring trustworthiness, but this kind of thoughtless reactions are what you can expect from rigid-thinkers.

Feb 20, 2014 21:49 Report Abuse

bill8899

500 million RMB? Well at least it's not about money.

Feb 20, 2014 17:07 Report Abuse

sharkies

Another day, another article about stupid Chinese behaviour.

Feb 20, 2014 16:51 Report Abuse

Guest2523836

Relationships are pure business between Chinese, no love. Also lie detectors are unreliable and don't work, that's why you can't use it as evidence in courts.

Feb 20, 2014 15:43 Report Abuse

Englteachted

If you are willing to put a woman through this, then you deserve to be alone for the rest of your life.

Feb 20, 2014 15:09 Report Abuse

DrMonkey

Fun fact : you can cheat a polygraph with a bit of training and preparation. http://www.wikihow.com/Cheat-a-Polygraph-Test-%28Lie-Detector%29 Also, using beta-blockers helps a lot. Aldrich Ames, a double agent back in the 80's, managed to cheat a polygraph testing. Copied from Wikipedia entry for Aldrich Ames [In 1986 and 1991, Ames passed two polygraph examinations while spying for the Soviet Union and Russia, respectively. Ames was initially "terrified" at the prospect of taking the test, but he was advised by the KGB "to just relax".] Foolish...

Feb 20, 2014 11:30 Report Abuse