It appears to me that rationalizing behavior in sports is on the rise. In sports, college football players’ acknowledgement of improper money payments rarely makes the news. A player’s admission of taking steroids for performance is becoming common. Academics workarounds to enable playing sports is not surprising.
Why is it that:
- If the rules are unfair or hypocritical, it is OK to break them? (i.e. drinking age limit)
- It is perceived as “not really cheating” if one also believes “the system is corrupt?” (i.e. tax loop holes)
- It seems OK if everyone else is doing it? (i.e. driving over the speed limit?)
- Breaking the rules does not appear as bad as lying/denying about it? (i.e. Lance Armstrong)
Where is our moral outrage needle?
