Cheating and deceiving is a behavior that society has classified as negative, so psychologists have always assumed that the person who behaves in this way feels remorse and a series of negative emotions that drive him or her to assume a more ethical attitude.
However, now a new research conducted at the University of Washington equates the act of lying and cheating with a line of cocaine. These psychologists are convinced that the “cheater’s euphoria” makes us release as much adrenaline as extreme sports or any other activity that can be potentially addictive.
Real reasons?
The researchers designed three experiments to test their theory. In the first they used a cash reward for people to try to solve a word puzzle. However, the experiment was designed in such a way that participants could illicitly obtain the final prize as they could glance at the correct answers.
As predicted, more than 40% of participants cheated. However, the curious thing comes now because after the test, they were asked to report their emotions. So the cheaters reported more positive feelings, such as satisfaction. That is to say, they did not feel bad about what they had done but rather showed behavior very similar to that which someone who has just taken drugs might exhibit.
Neither quick nor lazy, the researchers launched a second experiment but this time they eliminated the economic factor; That is, there was no reward so, supposedly, the motive to lie disappeared. Once again, everything was designed so that people could cheat and almost 70% did! Again, cheaters reported more positive emotions, even if they had not won any money.
In the third and final experiment, the researchers recruited 205 people online and offered them the chance to win cash if they solved some word puzzles. To eliminate the possibility of participants cheating without being aware of it, they established an “honor system,” whereby everyone had to report that they had been honest in their answers. What was surprising was that with this system the participants reported even more intense feelings of satisfaction.
So why do people cheat?
Everything seems to indicate that lying and cheating do not always generate negative feelings, quite the opposite. Why? Although the researchers do not provide an explanation, one theory could be that the act of lying itself generates considerable activation of the central nervous system, such as when we are about to jump from a great height. In this state our prefrontal areas, which are normally responsible for regulating our behaviors, are overshadowed. Therefore, what we perceive is that intense feeling of euphoria, at least during the first moments. Perhaps later, once the brain is functioning normally again, the person reflects on their behavior and may regret it.
Reference:
Ruedy, NE et. Al. (2013) The cheater’s high: the unexpected affective benefits of unethical behavior. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology ; 105(4): 531-548.
