Do Cheaters Sometimes Prosper? The Longitudinal Effect of Social Sanctions on Student Performance

摘要

Social network theory' posits that in highly embedded groups social sanctions are effective at mitigating undesirable behaviors. This paper explores the effects of social sanctions over time. Using a unique sample of 40 MBA students, we examine the effects of perceived cheating on ongoing social relationships as well as their performance in school. We find that all actors who are perceived to cheat are ostracized in their social networks, yet the negative effect of being ostracized fades over time. In other words, we find that social sanctions differential impact actors" performance contingent on the duration of the interaction. More generally, our research suggests limitations in the effectiveness of social sanctions in curtailing socially deviant behaviors.