Prof. Painter Quoted in Op-Ed by Former Nixon White House Counsel John Dean

Professor Richard Painter was quoted extensively in an op-ed by former Nixon White House Counsel John Dean comparing the Penn State scandal to his own involvement in Watergate. Dean writes, "Richard Painter has done some remarkable work in analyzing what he calls 'the psychology of cover-ups.' Drawing on the work of Nobel Prize laureates Daniel Kahneman and Amos Tversky, and their now classic 1979 essay 'Prospect Theory: An Analysis of Decision Under Risk,' Richard notes how persons who find themselves in 'loss frames' (or losing situations) are inclined to take greater risks to avoid even more loss, even when the risks are irrational, than others. In addition, the loss frame creates a 'cognitive bias toward concealment.' Richard thought that this might have happened to Nixon and others with Watergate. I can confirm without any doubt that he was correct: That was the case for us all."