In the context of AP Psychology, which of the following best defines a social trap?

• A. A situation in which individuals or groups pursue their own short-term interests, leading to negative outcomes for the group as a whole.
• B. A type of stress that results from social interactions with others.
• C. A psychological condition where a person feels trapped in a social role and cannot escape.
• D. A method used to measure social anxiety in group settings.

Answer: (A)

Verified step by step guidance

1. Step 1: Understand the concept of a social trap in psychology. A social trap occurs when individuals or groups make decisions based on their own short-term interests without considering the long-term consequences for the group.
2. Step 2: Recognize that social traps often involve conflicts between individual and collective interests, where pursuing personal gain can lead to negative outcomes for everyone involved.
3. Step 3: Compare the given options to the definition of a social trap. Identify which option describes a situation where short-term self-interest leads to harm for the group.
4. Step 4: Eliminate options that describe unrelated concepts, such as stress from social interactions, psychological conditions about social roles, or measurement methods for social anxiety.
5. Step 5: Conclude that the best definition of a social trap is the one describing individuals or groups pursuing their own short-term interests, resulting in negative outcomes for the group as a whole.