Eugene, OR, USA. Belief in God doesn't deter a person from cheating on a test, unless that God is seen as a mean, punishing one, psychology researchers say. On the flip side, they found that undergraduate college students who believe in a caring, forgiving God are more likely to cheat.

The research is part of a larger effort to understand cultural development, in particular the role of religion in encouraging — or even forcing adherence to — moral behavior.