129. Why Do We Cheat, and Why Shouldn’t We?

No Stupid Questions

Freakonomics Radio + Stitcher

Society & Culture

4.6 • 3.7K Ratings

🗓️ 8 January 2023

⏱️ 40 minutes

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Summary

Is there such a thing as a victimless crime? In an unfair system, is dishonesty okay? And are adolescent vandals out of ideas?

Transcript

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0:00.0	It sounds lured.
0:04.2	Sounds like a delicious cocktail.
0:06.7	I'm Angela Duckworth.
0:08.1	I'm Stephen Dubner.
0:09.1	And you're listening to those stupid questions.
0:12.6	Today on the show, what's wrong with cheating on tests?
0:16.7	The victims are the law abiding suckers.
0:21.3	Angela, we have a question from listeners.
0:29.9	His name is Aiden.
0:30.9	Aiden writes to say, I'm a 20-year-old sophomore in college, and I have been cheating since middle
0:36.5	school.
0:37.5	Through the years, Aiden writes, I have created close to 100 new ways of cheating, mostly
0:42.4	using the tech realm.
0:44.4	I know I am more than capable of not cheating, but it is extremely difficult to motivate doing
0:50.4	it.
0:51.4	I guess what that means is Aiden has a hard time being motivated to not cheat, right?
0:54.8	Right.
0:55.8	To actually like do the work, I guess.
0:57.1	I guess so.
0:58.1	Or maybe it's just super fun.
0:59.9	Anyway, Aiden goes on to say, even in my favorite classes, I can't help myself but cheat on virtually
1:04.6	every assignment.
	...

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