Cheating

Cheating is the act of subverting or disobeying rules to gain an unfair advantage. Most people try to do this without being noticed. This behavior can involve breaking explicit, written rules. It can also involve breaking unwritten codes of conduct based on morality, ethics, or custom. Because these unwritten rules vary, identifying cheating can sometimes be a subjective process. Cheating can also refer to infidelity, which is the violation of a social contract in a relationship. In British English, a person who cheats is called a "cheat." In American English, they are called a "cheater."

Academic cheating is a significant issue in the United States. In June 2005, Professor Donald McCabe from Rutgers University released a report for The Center for Academic Integrity. His research showed that 95% of students admitted to some form of cheating. This includes copying homework, stealing papers, or peeking at tests. In his study of 4,500 high school students, 74% admitted to cheating on a test. Additionally, 72% admitted to cheating on written work. One-third of those students reported that they cheated repeatedly.

Modern technology has created new ways for students to cheat. Online term-paper mills now sell formatted reports on almost any topic. Some services exist specifically to prepare homework or take online tests for students. Digital audio players can be used to hide notes. Even graphing calculators can be used to store formulas for math problems. This digital revolution has contributed to a new wave of academic dishonesty. Even in historical times, cheating was documented. The Ming-dynasty Book of Swindles discusses bribery and cheating regarding the Chinese imperial examinations.

In sports, cheating is the intentional breaking of rules to gain an advantage over competitors. Sports are governed by both customs and formal rules. One major form of cheating is doping, which is the use of performance-enhancing drugs. A 2012 investigation by the United States Anti-Doping Agency (USADA) found that cyclist Lance Armstrong used banned substances during his career.

Other famous cases include Ben Johnson, who was disqualified from the 1988 Summer Olympics. In professional baseball, players like José Canseco and Ken Caminiti later admitted to using steroids.

Athletes also cheat by using improper equipment or physical interference. In baseball, pitchers might use a "spitball" or an "emery ball" to alter the ball's condition. Batters might use a corked bat to gain an advantage. In American football, some players have used "stickum," a sticky substance, to make catching the ball easier. Hall of Famer Jerry Rice admitted to using this illegally.

Other sports face equipment cheating, such as illegal racket tension in tennis or illegal golf club weight. Even historical bowling involved cheating, such as using secret strings attached to pins to change scores.

Cheating can also occur through coaching and officiating. Coaches may use bribery or kickbacks during player recruitment. Some may engage in corporate espionage to steal an opponent's strategy. For example, the New England Patriots were found to have videotaped an opposing team's defensive signals in 2007. In the 2002 Winter Olympics, a figure skating scandal involved judging collusion. A Russian team was awarded gold due to an alleged vote-swapping deal. This resulted in the Canadian team being upgraded to gold later. This event forced the International Skating Union to modify its judging system.

In video games, cheating takes several different forms. Players might use secret access codes, like the Konami code, to unlock bonuses. In single-player games, using "exploits" to explore content is often accepted. However, cheating in multiplayer games is considered immoral by developers and players. It breaks the "risk/reward curve" and ruins the experience for others. Some players use "hacks" to gain advantages in online matches. Others use "bugs," which are errors in the game's code. For example, a player might exploit a bug to make an enemy get stuck in the terrain.

Finally, cheating can occur in physical training. In strength training, people sometimes move weight from a tired muscle to a fresh one. This allows them to lift more weight or exercise longer than they should. Unlike sports, strength training has no official rules, so there are no penalties. However, this can lead to injury or a failure to meet specific training goals. This is because the exercises are designed to target specific muscle groups through proper form. When the form is broken, the intended training effect is lost.