Alonzo, the president of his high school's senior class and honor society, has been very busy and did not study for an important history test. Although Alonzo is very confident, he realizes that he probably will not do well on the test. He has talked himself into cheating because he believes that cheating will help him maintain his strong GPA, which he will need to be accepted by a good college. He tells his friend, "I don't usually cheat, but I really have to do it." Which of the following might explain Alonzo's behavior?

Question

A. the holier-than-thou effect
B. the deception effect
C. the cheating requirement
D. a depression disorder
E. motivated blindness

Answer 1

E. motivated blindness

Motivated blindness is the tendency to overlook information that works against our best interest. "People who have a vested self-interest, even the most honest among us, have difficulty being objective," says one report. "Worse yet, they fail to recognize their lack of objectivity." Motivated blindness enables us to behave unethically while maintaining a positive self-image. Most students rationalize cheating by saying, "I don't usually do this, but I really have to do it." They would rather cheat than show their families they got an F.