Final answer:
The Malthusian population trap model is criticized for ignoring the impact of technological progress in agriculture and oversimplifying population growth as being solely about individual reproductive choices.
Step-by-step explanation:
The criticism of the Malthusian population trap model revolves around its neglect of technological progress and the assumption that population growth is largely an individual choice regarding family size. The model, as proposed by Thomas Malthus, warned of a scenario where population growth would outpace agricultural production, leading to widespread famine and misery.
Where Malthus went wrong, critics argue, was in underestimating the role of technological innovations in agriculture, which have significantly increased food production. Moreover, sociological factors such as family planning and advances in medicine have slowed population growth rates and improved living standards, contrary to the assumption that population control is purely a matter of individual choices over procreation.