The Rise and Fall of Dutch Psychologist Dieterik Stappel

Dutch psychologist Dieterik Stappel gained international fame through groundbreaking research on how environmental cues can impact behavior. His studies on metaphorical priming gained significant attention, with findings suggesting that subtle cues such as a dirty train station could lead to prejudiced thoughts. However, it was later revealed that Stapel fabricated all his data, including experiments like simulating a fishy odor in a classroom to influence trust levels. His fraudulent studies, once celebrated, ultimately discredited his work and raised questions about scientific integrity.