The world of Academia recently engaged in yet another debate about plagiarism. The Telegraph reported in July that a 37-year-old professor at Cambridge was publicly lauded and revered. His was a classic Horatio Alger story (Alger was known for the recurring theme of rags-to-riches).
The challenges of plagiarism in academia are not new. See The Arms Race in Academia (March 2026); Plagiarism Now? (February 2025); Fallacy and Introspection (January 2024). Some are terrified of plagiarism; others seemingly not so much.
This professor's rise is heroic in a way that might seem Hollywood. He was nonverbal and autistic until he was 11, and learned to read when he was 18. A mere 19 years after learning to read, he had earned his doctorate and become a professor at one of the most prestigious institutions in the world.
He has now published his autobiography, which may have raised his public profile. Another result was some accusations of plagiarism, which have, in turn, resulted in allegations that seem akin to favoritism in a broad context.
Seeking to end the debate, or to further malign the professor (pick your perspective), "The Telegraph identified more than 100 passages that are identical or nearly identical to a 2009 PhD thesis by" another university student. The professor's thesis mentions that other student 17 times but apparently does not attribute passages directly to that student's work (and/or perhaps is barely transparent paraphrasing).
There were defenders also in the news. It is possible that they are true believers in the professor's work. Since graduating with his PhD, he has held "academic posts at the University of Roehampton, Durham University and the University of Glasgow" before more recently "taking up a similar post at Cambridge." Thus, if it is plagiarism, it was missed by many reviewers and institutions whose own credibility now rests with the professor's.
All of those institutions may be motivated to defend the professor for academic or emotional reasons. Their defense might be personal, tied more to their emotional response than The Telegraph's evidence. By the same token, the critics may likewise be so motivated by their own predisposition.
The Conversation contends that this instance may drive a deeper analysis of plagiarism, ghostwriting, originality, and "shifting standards." There are allegations now against his accusers and discussions of the merits or detriments of both originality and flattery (plagiarism). There is discussion of how the engagement of AI is intertwined in academia and beyond.
There may be broader lessons in the story. Those who have spent any time studying predisposition may immediately think here of Anchor Bias. Are those institutions clinging to their first conclusion—"no plagiarism"—because that is true or because that was their first conclusion upon interviewing and hiring? This is similar to the Primacy Effect.
Another predisposition that may be at play is the Confirmation Bias. This leads us to "search for and recall information in a way that confirms or supports one's prior beliefs or values." This one is a bane of litigators and physicians alike. We form working themes, solutions, or diagnoses, and then we unconsciously interpret and judge incoming data with a tendency to believe that which reinforces our prior conclusions, while doubting anything contradictory.
Another potential bias is the Fading Effect Bias. This leads us to have stronger memories of positivity than negativity. The Fading Effect may make us more prone to believe a story or subject that evokes strong emotional positivity. What is more positive than a good Horatio Alger hero? The professor's book is said to describe "his improbable triumphs and heartbreaking setbacks." We are all inclined to root for the underdog. It is heartwarming to see triumph and success from adversity and challenge.
There is also a tendency to accept facts or outcomes that are "believable rather than because they are logically valid." This Belief Bias may lead us to favor conclusions that are consistent with our "personal worldview." If our worldview includes a belief that certain people or groups are oppressed or marginalized, then we may inherently tend to defend them regardless of facts.
And one might always need to remain aware of the dreaded Groupthink in which our conclusions are influenced by the number and volume of other voices. This is similar to Confirmation Bias, but with an emphasis on the inputs of our peers' voices or even the most predominant voices around us.
The debate was interesting in a macro sense. Could blatant plagiarism survive the supposed or expected rigor of the academic world? Might a variety of professors have failed in this instance to identify 100 troublesome passages ("100 passages that are identical or nearly identical")?
In the same sense, might his achievements since then be flavoring the present analysis, either as confirmation or despite it? The former professor, notably, has claimed to have run "300 miles in three days and 600 miles in six days" among other worthy and altruistic feats. The Telegraph notes that some of those achievements have been "amended or deleted from biographies in recent months." It may instead have been "600 miles in 12 days," but how would one know for sure?
But, beyond the debate, the main interest of the situation is the opportunity to consider how the human mind reacts. The inherent predispositions discussed here, and many more, are featured in my free book Unseen Influence: Unconscious Predisposition in Dispute Resolution (2025). The serious litigator, physician, and mediator will take the time to peruse those potentials and better understand how their thoughts may be influenced.
No sooner had the first Telegraph story broken than another accused the professor of falsifying the publication of a book. Very soon thereafter, Cambridge "announced an investigation," and the professor resigned, according to GMA. The professor asserted he was unfairly maligned; the critics claim academic misconduct, and the perspectives will likely remain polarizing. But the potential for our preconceptions to influence our personal perspective remains worthy of study.
ABC News then reported in August that the former professor had been found unresponsive in South London. The news and social media feeds illustrated the devotion of his fans. The publisher of his book, Simon & Schuster, expressed belief that he was abused and undermined. The British prime minister commented. There were accusations of racism and even persecution.
The world of academia will have to deal with the allegations that this particular alleged plagiarism was pursued out of racial animus. There will undoubtedly be comparisons to other plagiarism allegations. And it is possible that the various perspectives might be driven by evidence or predisposition. Time will tell.
For the rest of us, the perils of plagiarism persist. We strive with software that helps detect it, AI that may proliferate it, and significant public spectrums of ambivalence, denial, denigration, and more.
* Note that this situation is presented as represented in press reports. There is no intention here to dredge up this person's past for the sake of judgment or ridicule. This is a real-world situation that illustrates and highlights issues for consideration and analysis.
