A recent study of university students found that those who say they don’t cheat rank higher in courage and (surprise, surprise) honesty. They are also more likely to think that their fellow students are relatively honest.
The study of students at one Ohio university found that students who scored high on measures of courage, empathy and honesty were less likely than others to report their cheating in the past – or intending to cheat in the future.
Moreover, those students who reported less cheating were also less likely to believe that their fellow students regularly committed academic dishonesty.
People who don’t cheat “have a more positive view of others,” said Sara Staats, co-author of the research and professor of psychology at Ohio State University’s Newark campus.
On the other hand, students who report that they cheat rank lower in courage and honesty and are more likely to rationalise their behaviour by assuming that others cheat as well. Other studies estimate that at least half, and sometimes up to 80 percent, of college students admit cheating.
Dr Staats called non-cheating students “academic heroes”.
The academic heroes also reported they would feel more guilt if they cheated compared to non-heroes.
“The heroes didn’t rationalize cheating the way others did, they didn’t come up with excuses and say it was OK because lots of other students were doing it,” Staats said.
It would be interesting to investigate the religious and moral convictions of cheating and non-cheating students.
Another recent study discovered that students with a weak belief in their own ability to influence their circumstances were more likely to cheat when the opportunity arose, suggesting that belief in free will can help keep people honest.
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