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Social Traps01:41

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Social traps are negative situations where people get caught in a direction or relationship that later proves to be unpleasant, with no easy way to back out of or avoid. The concept was orignally introduced by John Platt who applied psychology to Garrett Hardin's "Tragedy of the Commons", where in New England herd owners could let their cattle graze in the common ground. This situation seems like a good idea, but an individual could have an advantage. If they owned...
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Social behavior is a complex phenomenon that arises from the interaction between biological predispositions and environmental influences. This intricate interplay shapes how individuals think, feel, and act in various social contexts. Understanding these mechanisms requires insights from psychology, neuroscience, genetics, and evolutionary theory.Environmental Influences on Social BehaviorEnvironmental factors, including temperature, odors, and visual stimuli, play a crucial role in shaping...
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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Oct 15, 2025

Prospecting Microbial Strains for Bioremediation and Probiotics Development for Metaorganism Research and Preservation
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[Human Selfishness and Environmental Problems].

Takahiko Katoh1, Miyuki Kikuchi2

  • 1Department of Public Health, Faculty of Life Sciences, Kumamoto University.

Nihon Eiseigaku Zasshi. Japanese Journal of Hygiene
|November 1, 2021
PubMed
Summary

Human selfishness and endless desire drive environmental destruction. This study explores evolutionary roots, capitalism

Keywords:
economicsenvironmentgame theorygeneselfishness

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Area of Science:

  • Evolutionary biology and environmental science
  • Socioeconomics and behavioral economics

Background:

  • Environmental problems are intrinsically linked to human economic activities.
  • Despite the urgency, individuals often neglect environmental issues, suggesting a disconnect between personal and global concerns.
  • The hypothesis posits that inherent human selfishness and endless desire, rooted in survival instincts, lead to environmental degradation.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To examine the evolutionary basis of the 'selfish gene' and its impact on survival at cellular, individual, and societal levels.
  • To analyze the mechanisms of modern capitalism and the current global environmental crisis.
  • To investigate the relationship between human selfishness and environmental problems using game theory, behavioral economics, and sociology.

Main Methods:

  • Evolutionary perspective on gene survival and human development (cerebrum, intelligence, science).
  • Analysis of modern capitalist economic systems and their environmental consequences.
  • Interdisciplinary approach integrating game theory, behavioral economics, and sociology to study human selfishness and environmental impact.

Main Results:

  • The 'selfish gene' theory explains individual and societal survival mechanisms.
  • Modern capitalism, driven by profit and endless desire, exacerbates environmental destruction.
  • Human selfishness, analyzed through game theory and behavioral economics, is a significant factor in environmental problems.

Conclusions:

  • Human survival instincts, characterized by selfishness and endless desire, are fundamental drivers of environmental destruction.
  • Understanding these inherent traits is crucial for addressing the global environmental crisis.
  • Proposed countermeasures involve social psychology, systemic changes, and technological innovation.