The Cheating Culture

Mr. Callahan talked about his book The Cheating Culture: Why More Americans Are Doing Wrong to Get Ahead, published by Harcourt. He claimed that there had been a significant rise in cheating in the U.S. over the past decade. Using such cases as the WorldCom, Martha Stewart, and Barry Bonds scandals as a backdrop, Mr. Callahan argued that the rise in cheating (even cheating on a smaller scale) is a direct result of our society becoming more cutthroat and unequal. He also argued that while more and more people in the U.S. felt that they cannot succeed by being honest and working hard, there was also a growing feeling that there is no penalty for cheating. Following his assessment of the current situation, Mr. Callahan provided an outline for a new social contract that, he says, will help reverse the trend. After his presentation he responded to questions from members of the audience. close