Diederik Stapel is a former Dutch social psychologist known for his research in the fields of social psychology and behavioral science. He gained prominence for his studies on topics such as prejudice, stereotypes, and consumer behavior. However, his career took a significant downturn due to allegations of scientific misconduct. In 2011, it was revealed that Stapel had fabricated data in numerous published studies, leading to a major scandal in the academic community. As a result, many of his papers were retracted, and he faced severe criticism for undermining the integrity of scientific research. This incident raised awareness about the importance of ethical standards in research.