How do you deal with cheaters? Nate has some ideas to help you change a cheater's behavior without spoiling the game, or ostracizing the cheater. 

Cheaters Never Prosper?
by Nate Scheidler

We've all heard the saying, cheaters never prosper. Its the threat of karmic whiplash, the warning to play by the same rules as everyone else... and sometimes the bitter vindictive of a person who was cheated. Is that really the case though? Do cheaters never prosper? In adult life, we watch people get caught for breaking the rules and understand that many more manage to escape punishment for what they do.

As much as we hate to be cheated, we also celebrate our tricksters, the clever and the witty. Cheating is actually an expression of creativity, as much as we are disinclined to appreciate its practice.So how should we handle cheating in the classroom?

Defining "Cheat"

Lets take a look at the some of the definitions of cheat (v):

• to practice fraud or deceit: "She cheats without regrets"
• to violate rules or regulations: "He cheats at cards".
• to take an examination or test in a dishonest way, as by improper access to answers.

I'll elaborate on the second item a little more, because I don't think that definition is complete. Breaking the rules is a pretty big deal. Some people do so with reckless abandon, but for many the decision to cheat is conscious and measured. When someone cheats, it because they think it will make a difference in the outcome. So let's work with this:

cheat (v): to violate rules of regulations in order to create a one-sided advantage.

Motivations for cheating

So in defining cheat a little more closely, we look at the motivation. Cheating is a symptom, its not the cause.

Its as children that we are most inclined to cheat. I know I did. Most of our lives are highly defined and regulated (get ready for school, do your homework, don't put your feet on the table), and as we grow we start to push against those limits. We are also existing in a world where we compete with each other to be in the front of the line, to have the highest test scores, or the respect of our peers.

In this environment, the urge to break the rules, be the winner, and overcome the limits can be hard to suppress. Some will give in to that urge and cheat. A majority will be snapped back in to line by being caught and receiving punishment, but others will carry this pattern through to adulthood (with sometimes disastrous results).

Games (though not competitive sports) are perhaps the safest space to encounter cheating, mitigate it, and even embrace it.

Playing with Cheaters

Before we fly off and accuse everyone of cheating, remember that sometimes people make honest mistakes. In a game, with nothing really at stake, accusing someone of cheating can be very socially damaging. I've had plenty of games where I've made mistakes, either just learning the rules or being distracted. I also accused a very good friend of mine of being a cheater in jest, and he did not take it as lightly as the comment was intended. While cheating should not go unrecognized, think before you start assigning labels (that's just good advice in general).

Cheating is intended to give one side an advantage over the other side by violating the rules. So here are some options you might consider to help address the problem positively for your learners:

1. Remove the rule that's being violated for everyone that's playing. Its not a one-sided advantage if everyone gets it. If the problem has been happening for a while, provide additional points/cards/resources needed to bring the other player up to speed with the cheater has been doing. You may be breaking the game as a result, but you'll be highlighting the problems with the cheater's behavior without singling them out. Its possible that the changes you make will also result in an enjoyable game, which could in turn serve to be a basis for rewarding ingenuity rather than punishing a rule breaker.
2. Help the learner improve their game. Obviously, they feel that they are at enough of a disadvantage that they need to break the rules. Is it circumstantial? Do they not understand the game well enough? Providing strategy and tips on how to play better may remove the interest in upsetting the game balance.
3. Play a game that allows the cheater to show their strengths. Remember, cheating is a form of creativity... so you might choose a creative game. Reminding the cheater that they can be a winner at another activity helps dampen the need to win where they are outmatched.

Remember, we celebrate our tricksters... and the same behaviors that cause someone to break the rules early in life may be what makes them a leader as an adult. Playing games gives us an opportunity to identify these behaviors and guide them in a positive manner.