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Academic Confidence Mediates the Link Between Psychopathy and Academic Dishonesty

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Abstract

Academic dishonesty (AD) is a threat to quality education, ethics of professional practices and career outcomes. Psychopathy is connected to AD. This study investigated whether academic confidence (AC) mediates the relationship between psychopathy and AD. University students (N = 335, mean age = 18.38 years) completed measures of relevant variables, in addition to providing demographic details. Results of statistical analysis showed that AC mediated the association between primary psychopathy and AD. Considering the extent of students' belief, trust and expectation that they can execute their academic tasks by themselves could be important target in enhancing ethical behaviors among students.

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Data Availability Statement

Data for this manuscript are with the authors and can be made available on request.

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Acknowledgements

We thank our participants for accepting to participate in this study.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Philosophy, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Nigeria

    Innocent Ikechukwu Enweh

  2. Department of Psychology, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Nigeria

    Maria Chidi Christiana Onyedibe & Desmond Uchechukwu Onu

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  1. Innocent Ikechukwu Enweh
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  2. Maria Chidi Christiana Onyedibe
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  3. Desmond Uchechukwu Onu
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Correspondence to Desmond Uchechukwu Onu.

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Enweh, I.I., Onyedibe, M.C.C. & Onu, D.U. Academic Confidence Mediates the Link Between Psychopathy and Academic Dishonesty. J Acad Ethics 20, 521–531 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10805-021-09426-0

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