US teenagers cheating, lying and stealing more - survey

US teenagers are not only cheating, lying and stealing more, but they are less ashamed of it than ever, according to a new survey.

Of 12,000 secondary school students polled by the Josephson Institute of Ethics, 74% admitted cheating on an exam once in the past year.

Nearly four out of 10 adolescents acknowledged stealing from a shop during that period, and 93% confessed to lying to their parents or relatives.

They are highest figures since the JIE started its biennial surveys in 1992. Researchers said they were most alarmed by the students’ acceptance of their immoral actions.

Nearly half the respondents approved of lying occasionally to save money, while 37% were willing to lie to get a good job.

And almost all of them – 95% – thought they would get away with the dishonesty.

“We adults have nobody to blame but ourselves,” Tom DeCair, a spokesman for the Californian non-profit institute, told The New York Post.

“Parents cheat on taxes, teachers deceive and sleep with their students, corporate chief executives swindle money,” he said.

“Even priests have violated the trust of children. We are raising today’s cheats and thieves to become tomorrow’s leaders.”