Bringing that cheat sheet into a dreaded math class may not spawn remorse, but a "cheater's high."
A study found people who got away with cheating and believe their dishonesty did not hurt anybody often feel "upbeat" after the fact, an American Psychological Association press release reported.
"When people do something wrong specifically to harm someone else, such as apply an electrical shock, the consistent reaction in previous research has been that they feel bad about their behavior," lead author of the study, Nicole E. Ruedy, of the University of Washington, said. "Our study reveals people actually may experience a 'cheater's high' after doing something unethical that doesn't directly harm someone else."
The study, which analyzed 1,000 men and women in their early 20s to late 30s, found people who had cheated usually felt better than those who were more honest.
In a questionnaire participants usually predicted someone who cheated on a test would feel bad afterwards, the truth turned out to be quite the opposite.
Two groups of study subjects were asked to complete math logic problems with a computer program. The "control group" did not have the opportunity to cheat. The other group was able to click a button to see the correct answer, but was asked to disregard it and work on the problem themselves.
About 68 percent of the group used the "cheat button." These participants were found to get a "significant emotional boost," that was not experienced by those who didn't cheat or weren't able to.
Another study found people also feel happier after they have benefited from another's "misdeeds."
Researchers told participants they would be paid for each puzzle they were able to solve in a certain amount of time. Another "participant" (who was actually an actor) was to report how many puzzles had been solved. In one group the actor reported that the participant had solved more puzzles than they actually had. None of the people in this group reported the misinformation.
Yet another trial found that when researchers stressed the importance of not cheating in the study, it made the cheaters feel even better. Over half of the participants cheated.
"The good feeling some people get when they cheat may be one reason people are unethical even when the payoff is small," Ruedy said. "It's important that we understand how our moral behavior influences our emotions. Future research should examine whether this 'cheater's high' could motivate people to repeat the unethical behavior."
