Contemporary Educational Psychology 31 (2006) 97–122 www.elsevier.com/locate/cedpsych 0361-476X/$ - see front matter  2005 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. doi:10.1016/j.cedpsych.2005.03.001 Predictors of a behavioral measure of scholastic cheating: Personality and competence but not demographics Craig Nathanson, Delroy L. Paulhus ¤ , Kevin M. Williams Department of Psychology, University of British Columbia, 2136 West Mall, Vancouver, BC, Canada V6T 1Z4 Available online 25 May 2005 Abstract Although many studies have examined individual diVerence predictors of cheating, insuY- cient attention has been given to several important personality variables (the Big Five, perfection- ism, and subclinical psychopathy). Moreover, insuYcient use has been made of concrete indicators of naturalistic scholastic cheating. Using a computer-based behavioral measure, we examined the correlates of multiple-choice exam cheating in several large undergraduate classes. In Study 1, 291 participants completed a comprehensive battery of personality measures. Their cheating on several subsequent exams was best predicted by their level of subclinical psychopa- thy. A possible artifact is that those high in subclinical psychopathy are less scholastically compe- tent—a factor known to predispose cheating. To address this possibility in Study 2 (N D 150), we included measures of cognitive ability and a pre-course knowledge test. After controlling for both ability and prior knowledge, subclinical psychopathy remained a signiWcant predictor of cheating behavior. Demographic variables such as gender, ethnicity and major did not add signiWcantly to the prediction of cheating. Implications for educators and researchers of cheating are discussed.  2005 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. Keywords: Cheating; Personality; Subclinical psychopathy; Scholastic competence; Scholastic dishonesty; Cognitive ability * Corresponding author. Fax: +1 604 822 6923. E-mail address: dpaulhus@psych.ubc.ca (D.L. Paulhus).