Unraveling Social Traps: Overfishing to International Conflicts

Step 1 of 3

Social traps and mirror-image perceptions can fuel social conflict by perpetuating negative cycles of behavior, misperceptions, and escalating tensions between individuals or groups.

A social trap is a situation where individuals or groups, driven by immediate self-interest, engage in actions that seem beneficial in the short term but lead to negative long-term outcomes for everyone involved. Social traps often arise when there is a conflict of interests and a lack of cooperation among parties.

When individuals or groups fall into social traps, their focus on immediate gains closes their eyes to the potential negative consequences for all parties involved. This self-centered behavior can lead to a "lose-lose" scenario, where everyone ends up worse off due to their actions. For example, in an environmental context, individuals may prioritize their economic interests over the long-term well-being of the ecosystem. This can result in the depletion of resources, environmental degradation, and negative impacts on the entire community.