AI use threatens students' computing identities as competent, hardworking, and ethical, with students identifying as cheaters, lazy, or incompetent even where AI is permitted¶

Claim · All claims
Evidence · 1 study · qualitative r3 · q2
Currency · newest study 2026 · not yet checked against its sources · not reviewed by a person

Subclaims¶

q2 i? Students described feeling like 'cheaters' for using AI even in courses where AI was permitted, and internalized AI use as evidence of incompetence, contributing to imposter syndrome. → Kate Hamilton 2026

Evidence¶

Kate Hamilton 2026¶

Kate Hamilton, Irene Hou, Dev Patel, Sheena Nnam, Hena Patel, and Stephen MacNeil. (2026). “Stuck in a Spiral”: Shame and Guilt as Social Regulators of AI Use in Computing Education. https://arxiv.org/abs/2606.14920 doi:10.48550/arxiv.2606.14920

q2 · i? · qualitative · r3

Results on shaping identity: in the interview study, "Students described feeling like ‘cheaters’ for using AI, even in courses where AI was permitted," with participants describing feeling like a fraud or having imposter syndrome when using AI.

"Students described feeling like ‘cheaters’ for using AI, even in courses where AI was permitted."

Discussion¶

Related Claims¶

• Motivational Disengagement, reported by 270 participants, captures reduced initiative and eroding confidence linked to AI reliance — related
• Students fear that declaring AI use will lead to lower marks even when permitted, creating a 'Disclosure Trap' that drives AI use underground — related
• Students' GenAI use is ethically negotiated, with decisions emerging from intersecting personal integrity, institutional rules, fear of punishment and practical constraints — related
• Shame and guilt regulate the visibility of AI use: students engage in hiding behaviors and selective disclosure rather than open disclosure — related
• Approximately two-thirds of teacher education students chose not to adopt GenAI in assessments even when its use was allowed — related
• Black women and participants with intersecting identities report being overlooked, facing microaggressions, and experiencing imposter syndrome in tech spaces — related
• Students shame themselves, peers, and in one case a faculty member for using AI — related
• Shame and guilt coexist with continued AI use, creating self-reinforcing cycles of reliance, concealment, and self-critique rather than behavior change — related