What is social trap example?

A social trap is a situation in which individuals or groups pursue their own self-interest, leading to negative outcomes for the overall group. This can happen when individuals prioritize short-term benefits over long-term consequences, or when there is a lack of communication and cooperation among group members.

One example of a social trap is the tragedy of the commons, where individuals act in their own self-interest by exploiting a common shared resource, such as a public park or fishing ground. This can lead to overuse and depletion of the resource, ultimately leading to negative outcomes for everyone involved.

Another example of a social trap is the prisoner's dilemma, a scenario in game theory where two individuals must decide whether to cooperate or defect. In this situation, both individuals have a common interest in cooperating, but there is an incentive to defect in order to maximize individual gains. However, if both individuals choose to defect, they both end up worse off than if they had cooperated.

Overall, social traps are important to understand because they can lead to harmful outcomes for society as a whole if not addressed. By promoting cooperation, communication, and mutual trust, social traps can be avoided and more positive outcomes can be achieved.