Have you ever wondered if someone who cheats once is likely to cheat again? Whether it’s in a relationship, on a test, in a poker game, or even when filing taxes does cheating in one area mean someone will lie in another? A new psychological study has some surprising answers.
Can You Really Trust a Cheater?
For years, psychologists have debated whether cheating is a one-time mistake or a sign of a deeper personality trait. Now, fresh research gives us a clearer picture: cheating might not be just a slip-up it could be a habit.
A team of scientists led by Dr. Isabel Thielmann at the Max Planck Institute in Germany looked into this question. Their research, published in the Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, followed more than 2,900 people over several years to track how often they lied or cheated in different situations.
How the Study Worked
At the start, all volunteers completed personality tests, including questions about traits like narcissism, greed, selfishness, and dishonesty. These are often called "dark personality traits."
Then, they took part in a series of simple games where they could win money if they lied.
Here’s what they did:
1. The Mind Game
Participants wrote down a number between 1 and 8. Then a random number appeared on a screen. If they said the numbers matched, they got €2. But the twist? No one could check if they were telling the truth. So they could lie and get paid for it.
2. The Coin Toss Game
Later, they chose heads or tails and flipped a coin three times. If they claimed they guessed right all three times, they got more money. Again, the researchers couldn’t verify if they were honest.
3. The Birthday Lottery
Three years later, a smaller group of these participants was asked if a random month matched their mother’s birth month. If they said yes, they earned €5. You guessed it no one could confirm their answer.
What They Found: Cheating Was Shockingly Common
The results were eye-opening:
- In the mind game, 32% of people claimed a match way higher than the expected 12.5% if everyone told the truth.
- In the coin toss, 22% said they got all three tosses right again, higher than the honest average.
- In the lottery, 50% said the month matched their mom’s birthday even though the true odds were just 8.3%.
People lied more than expected in every task
But here’s where it gets interesting: those who cheated once were far more likely to cheat again later. In fact, people who lied in the first game were nearly 7 times more likely to lie in the second.
Even after three years, the same pattern showed up. Cheaters stayed cheaters.
The Role of Dark Personality Traits
The researchers also found that people with higher scores in “dark” traits like narcissism and manipulation were the ones who kept lying over time. Their dishonesty wasn’t random; it was part of who they are.
So, What’s the Takeaway?
This study reveals a powerful truth: cheating isn’t always a one-time thing. It often points to a deeper pattern in someone’s personality. If someone cheats once whether it’s for love, money, or an easy win they’re much more likely to do it again.
Final Thoughts
Dishonesty doesn’t just happen in the moment. For many, it’s a habit and a part of who they are. So the next time you wonder if someone who’s cheated before will do it again, science says the answer is probably yes.