Sometimes due to parental pressure, personal ambition or poor educational systems that allow pupils to proceed for the wrong reasons, a student can find himself in an institute of higher education but functionally unable to work to the required standard. If this happens, he faces two choices: either drop out of school and possibly face humiliation or the wrath of fee-paying or overambitious parents, or take the wrong path and cheat his way through. This is a particular temptation when courses are graded on essays and coursework rather than by formal exams.
When a young person leaves home and goes to college or university, her life changes dramatically. Parental discipline is no longer there; she is treated as an adult and can do as she pleases -- within reason. A student may find this abrupt change difficult to deal with and suddenly find that she has a number of essays or coursework tasks to complete. She can knuckle down and get the work done by her own merit or she can take a chance and commit plagiarism.
If you are a writer with a reward-based deadline, there is a temptation to commit plagiarism. For example, you are employed by an organization and a deadline is approaching to complete a report. You haven't done it but you know that several people have completed this report before. Alternatively, you might be an MBA student with a final report of 10,000 words. Because all of the courses were based in coursework, you have been able to get through with the help of friends, but none of them is willing or able to do this. It is common for organizations to promise employees enrolled in MBA courses promotions and pay raises if they pass. For example, if you fail, you stay on at $45,000 a year; if you pass, you are promised a raise of $75,000, a promotion and better prospects. This can create a temptation to plagiarize.
It is becoming more common for students from non-native, English-speaking countries to study in the United States, or for universities abroad to instruct in English. These students can be at a great disadvantage, both in understanding what is being taught and in having the confidence to express themselves adequately in English. The consequences of failure could cause them some humiliation or financial loss and therefore, may result in them attempting plagiarism.