In this article, Romeo Vitelli, Ph.D., examines people like Frank Abagnale, the con artist, to determine whether or not the act of cheating—and getting away with it—can be a positive motivator.
Pair “Is There a Cheater’s High?” with “The Pied Piper of Hamelin” and have students discuss whether “a cheater’s high” could have been a motivating factor for the Mayor of Hamelin’s dishonest behavior. Explain what the terms “cheater’s high” and “duping delight” mean according to “Is There a Cheater’s High?” How can getting away with unethical behavior sometimes encourage people to engage in even more unethical behavior? Why do you think the Mayor in “The Pied Piper of Hamelin” decided not to pay the Pied Piper what he had promised him? Do you think “duping delight” or “cheater’s high” played a role in the Mayor’s decision? Why, or why not? Cite specific details from the poem to support your interpretation of the Mayor’s behavior.