It was recently discovered that Pete Costello of Tacoma, Washington has been feigning retardation for nearly twenty years while his mother collected disability benefits in his name. While this level of deceit is inconceivable to most of us, experts say that it happens more commonly then we would like to believe.

Psychologist Bradley Fredrickson has conducted a long-term study that takes a hard look at the reasons people feign retardation.

“One thing we know is that it happens all the time,” said Fredrickson. “And that there are many motivations behind the deceptions. Some, like the Costello’s, do it for the money. Others use it as an escape mechanism; to lower the expectations placed on them by an increasingly demanding world. Others still do it because they do not want to give up good paying jobs at prestigious news organizations like The New York Times.”

Fredrickson would not comment on specific people who were involved in the study, citing confidentiality concerns. However, he did allow that France, San Francisco and the U.S. Senate were “overrepresented.”

Related posts 

1. Faking Retardation Not A Rarity, Experts Say
2. Carnegie Mellon Study Enshrines TNOYF As Top Fake News Organization: CNN, AP, NY Times Shut Out
3. Emeril In Hot Water