A situation in which the individual pursuit of self-interest leads to collective destruction is known as
A) a social trap.
B) the social responsibility norm.
C) the reciprocity norm.
D) superordinate goals.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

A social trap occurs when individuals act in their own self-interest, but collectively they create negative outcomes for everyone involved. Examples of social traps include overfishing, pollution, and the tragedy of the commons. In these situations, individuals may believe that their individual actions will not have a significant impact on the collective outcome, but when everyone acts in the same way, the negative consequences become clear.

A Situation in Which the Individual Pursuit of Self-Interest Leads