Natural and normal but unethical and evitable: The epidemic of academic dishonesty and how we end it

Abstract

In Short • Academic dishonesty is epidemic: The majority of students, secondary and tertiary, report cheating in the past year, many despite believing it is wrong. •The use of deception is natural: A product of natural selection, adaptive to survival and success. •Deception is also normal: Its use emerges in early childhood and develops in complexity along with other highly adaptive cognitive and social capacities. • Academic dishonesty is unethical: It is morally wrong because it is dishonest, unfair, and harmful, undercutting the achievement and prospects of honest students. • The epidemic of academic dishonesty is evitable: While there may always be a few students who cheat, those of us responsible for their education are capable of creating “cultures of integrity” where the vast majority do not do so.