Cheating

Prevalence of and Reasons for Cheating

The prevalence of cheating depends on the context. Academic dishonesty frequently occurs. Studies report that over 75 percent of high-school and college students have cheated at least once. The data on the prevalence of infidelity in committed relationships varies between studies, but one can conclude that infidelity occurs in less than one-quarter of committed relationships. In the organizational context, research indicates that every second job applicant is cheating. The prevalence of cheating within a sports context depends on the type of cheating behavior (e.g., game fixing or doping). For example, the rates for doping are nearly nonexistent or over 75 percent, depending on the type of drug (caffeine or anabolic steroids) as well as the sport (endurance sports, weight lifting, or gymnastics).

In general, people cheat to gain certain advantages. Those advantages can be either material or nonmaterial, and either direct or indirect. In an academic context, direct nonmaterial advantages of cheating can lead to good grades, higher authorization (to attend a certain college or university), and publications in scientific journals. An indirect nonmaterial advantage of academic cheating can lead to increases in honor (such as earning certificates) and reputation (e.g., increased listings in the curriculum vitae). These kinds of advantages can follow an indirect material advantage, such as a good job with high income. In a romantic relationship, a direct nonmaterial advantage of cheating can be pleasure. An indirect nonmaterial advantage of cheating in a romantic relationship—following an evolutionary approach—can be the maximization of the chances of gene survival. Cheating within the industrial/organizational context, as well as within the sports context, can lead to direct material advantages, such as monetary gains. Additionally, cheating in sports can also lead to the direct and indirect nonmaterial advantages of increased honor and reputation.

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