Low Risk / High Reward – Stress Chemicals Trigger Cheating In School

What do you tell your kids or grandkids about cheating?  Cheaters never prosper?  Maybe, but it seems they get get stress relief!

Ethical and trustworthy—two traits most of us demand in our presidential candidates—two traits often in short supply.  My question to you is this—Could it be a hormonal thing???  Don’t laugh!  Sure, it’s greed and power and entitlement and all that with our politicians but could it be chemicals for the rest of us?Back to the question - do you consider yourself an ethical person? Researchers from Harvard and the University of Texas researchers in a story in the Daily Mail say hormones may influence ethical behavior by quite a bit. Study authors say that elevated testosterone levels reduce fear of punishment while increasing desire for reward. (That sounds like a recipe for a frat party-or worse!)

University researchers says elevated levels of cortisol are linked to a state of chronic stress that can be uncomfortable and extremely debilitating. Interestingly, they also s discovered that cheating and other unethical behavior actually lowers levels of cortisol and reduces emotional stress, suggesting that cheating is -- a stress reliever.!

The scientists measured the hormone levels in more than 100 students before and after a stressful math test which they were allowed to grade themselves before handing in.

Those that cheated on the test were found to have higher levels of both testosterone and cortisol.

Harvard head honchos aren’t saying what the implications are for say, the presidency or other societal applications, but the take-home message for education is appeals for honesty based on ethics and morality-- and based on the threats of punishment-- may not be effective in preventing cheating.

Back to the chalk board for fairness in the classroom (Daily Mail)