Deviant Reactions to the College Pressure Cooker: A Test of General Strain Theory on Undergraduate Students in the United States

Abstract

Anonymous surveys administered to approximately 500 undergraduate students in the United States provided the data for this investigation. The study examines whether academic stressors increased the likelihood of cheating. Overall, the findings offer partial support for Agnew's general strain theory. Frustration related to blocked goals and cumulative stress were significant predictors of exam cheating and plagiarism; however, measures of negatively valued stimuli and the removal of positive stimuli were inconsistent predictors. Additionally, a theoretically unexpected finding was produced as perceived injustice decreased academic dishonesty. Implications of the findings are discussed.