Breaking the Rules – The Physics & Psychology of Cheating

About This Episode

You can break the rules of the game but you can’t break the rules of physics. On this episode of Playing with Science, hosts Chuck Nice and Gary O’Reilly, joined by sport physicist John Eric Goff and sport psychologist Dr. Leah Lagos, investigate the physics and psychology of cheating. First up: the recent ball-tampering scandal that rocked the Australian National Cricket team. You’ll hear how small changes to a cricket ball, football, and baseball can impact performance, creating a fertile ground for accusations, real or imagined. Discover more about some famous incidents of cheating, or alleged cheating, from history: the Tour de France, Barry Bonds, and Deflategate. We also re-visit Diego Maradona’s “Hand of God” incident in the 1986 World Cup quarter final – Gary can’t help but let his true Englishman out. You’ll hear how team/country culture can shape individual identity and behavior. Learn about the early signs of cheating we see in children and how individuals can normalize cheating in their minds. All that, plus, we ask an important question – is cheating just part of being human?   

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