There are various things I find truly remarkable and puzzling about the case of Diederik Stapel.

FORBES: Fraud In The Ivory Tower (And A Big One Too)

But there is another reaction to the Stapel fraud that makes me worried.

FORBES: Fraud or Apathy: What Is Academia's Biggest Threat?

"We want to give people tools that can de-escalate situations but also say, 'You need to be yourself, '" Stapel said.

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It seems there are two things that eventually made the three whistle blowers speak up and expose Stapel: Friendship and alcohol.

FORBES: Fraud and the Road to Abilene

Stapel had gained stardom status in the field of social psychology but, simply speaking, had been making up all his data all the time.

FORBES: Fraud and the Road to Abilene

But Stapel could have stopped at any point.

FORBES: Fraud In The Ivory Tower (And A Big One Too)

Diederik Stapel committed a truly massive fraud.

FORBES: Fraud or Apathy: What Is Academia's Biggest Threat?

The difference: Stapel could have stopped.

FORBES: Fraud In The Ivory Tower (And A Big One Too)