Why Do People Cheat?
Cheating is a “bad thing,” but it isn’t necessarily black and white. Pretty much anybody is capable of cheating, and the motivation to do so is built into our society. Here’s a look at why people cheat, and why such a bad thing isn’t necessarily an indicator of a bad person.
To understand why someone cheats, you have to consider why anybody makes a fearful decision. Say there’s another person that you like and want to ask out on a date, but you’re nervous and not sure if you can do it. Before you act, you often play out the outcome in your head by using the information you have and past experiences to fill in the blanks. Perhaps this person is very attractive and could be out of your league, so it’s unlikely that s/he will be willing to go on a date with your and you’ll be met with failure. Or perhaps you’re too nervous to make a good first impression. On the other hand, things could go well, but asking someone out is a choice with potential negative and positive consequences. Not asking someone out doesn’t change anything and therefore can’t make anything worse. In this situation, many people will opt to do nothing because the downside—not having a new girlfriend or boyfriend—is preferable to the possible downside of being rejected.
