Beware the "Cheater's High"

[bbasujon]

Good character going bad is like a beast escaping its cage; it will be hard to capture it again.
? Israelmore Ayivor, leadership coach.
You'd probably react with shock if someone accused you of dishonesty. But can you say, hand on heart, that you've never been a little untruthful at work?

You may be surprised to learn that research has shown some people lie on average twice each day, and during as many as one in five social interactions. Worryingly, studies also show that people can actually get a buzz from some unethical behavior, rather than feel guilt. This has been described as the "cheater's high."

People behave dishonestly for different reasons. Anxiety Add to My Personal Learning Plan, fear Add to My Personal Learning Plan and pressure Add to My Personal Learning Plan push some towards cheating and telling the occasional lie; others can be motivated by the potential for financial gain. More frequently, though, people may lie or cheat even when there's no tangible reward for doing so, just for the cheater's high.

In this article, we explore why some people chase the cheater's high, and we look at how to identify it and deal with it.

What is the Cheater's High?

The cheater's high is an emotional boost, or thrill, that some people get when they successfully cheat or deceive another person or organization. The rush they enjoy can lead them to repeat their dishonesty, even when there's no reward other than the high itself. If there is anything remotely positive to take from this behavior, it is the finding that, in most cases, getting the high depends on their actions not directly harming anyone else.

The unethical or deceitful behavior of the cheater's high does not have to be severe or criminal. For example, it can be exaggerating your management experience in an interview, "borrowing" items from the stationery cupboard, or logging more hours than you actually worked.
Looking honestly at your own behavior, try to recall whether you have ever felt a buzz or a kick at getting away with a lie or some form of cheating. If you have, you've experienced the cheater's high.

The high itself is more than just a superficial reaction to what you've done. Research shows that a chemical change takes place within your brain when it perceives a beneficial action taking place. Nerve cells release a shot of the neurotransmitter dopamine into the brain, which brings on pleasurable feelings of self-satisfaction. And this high is what can lead to a desire to repeat the behavior, sometimes to the point of addiction.

The action doesn't have to be something unethical; it can be anything beneficial, like meeting a friend for coffee or winning a new client. But if someone does think that he or she has successfully lied or cheated, this can trigger the same feelings that Ruedy et al call the cheater's high.

For some people, though, the rush becomes addictive and can lead to a vicious circle of destructive behavior that can impact reputations, damage workplace relationships Add to My Personal Learning Plan, and even undermine careers. And because the root cause of the behavior could be anxiety about work, an intention to hide mistakes, or simple greed, the deceptions could, in extreme cases, put a team or organization's stability and security at risk. At this point, with the likelihood of others being harmed, the motivating factor stops being the high, and it's the bad behavior and its rewards that becomes addictive.

The motivational thrill can spread, too. If other people collaborate with a cheater, or gain from his misdeeds, they can share in the high. And as the rewards of cheating become more widely known, the cheating itself can become more widespread, too. This ripple effect can lead to an organizational culture that tolerates dishonesty. An organization functions best when everyone works together for a common cause but, if it fails to act on cheating or deception, relationships can suffer and serious behaviors like fraud and embezzlement can follow.

Dealing With the Cheater's High

There are three steps to tackling the issue: recognizing that the problem exists, identifying the tell-tale signs of dishonest behavior, and dealing with those behaviors.

Step 1. Recognizing the Cheater's High Exists

As a manager, you need to recognize that the issue exists and may be present within your team or organization.The first instances of dishonest behavior may stem from anxiety, fear or the chance of personal gain. But instead of the cheater feeling guilt, shame or regret at her actions, she may get a kick or a high. Once she feels that high, it can become the reason for future dishonesty.

Step 2. Identifying Dishonest Behavior

Identifying lying or cheating behavior is tricky. After all, the dishonest person is trying to prevent people from uncovering the truth.

Start by establishing a baseline for each of your team members. This should happen naturally, as you get to know them. For example, if you know how a team member speaks and acts when you discuss uncontentious topics and he's telling the truth, you're more likely to notice any changes in his speech or mannerisms when he is being deceitful.

Knowing how to interpret body language Add to My Personal Learning Plan can be a useful skill. There are certain signs to look for that may suggest someone is not being truthful. For example, she may avoid facing you or swallow more frequently than usual. Her breathing may become heavy and audible, and she may display nervous tics such as touching her nose. Other clues include making sudden head movements when you ask direct questions, or gesturing angrily.

https://www.mindtools.com/pages/article/beware-cheaters-high.htm