Question

I am trying to identify a specific sociological phenomena which seems pretty obvious to me that it is well known and studied but after quite of googling, its name remains elusive - I'm just not hitting the right search terms.

Imagine a social situation where there are many individuals with a competing interest and a way to satisfy it. There is a burden associated with realizing these interests and there are rules or norms of the situation. A selfish individual can benefit from not obeying those rules. BUT, if enough individuals start act in selfish ways - a race to skip the line, if you will - the whole system breaks and, without it, ensuing chaotic situation is less efficient for realizing the interests of an average individual than in the case where everyone is obeying the rules!

a) Skipping the queue

Classic example is queue. Ignoring common understanding of fair queuing, selfish individuals can benefit but here tolerance is low - successful skips encourages others to ignore the rules, which quickly leads to queues to skip queues, made-up exceptions and ultimately creating chaos.

b) Leaving the roundabout

There is a traffic rule where cars that leave the roundabout must indicate so with their outer turn light. The rule is in place so that car that wants to enter roundabout on the next entrance can do so without without necessary wait. At the same time, turning on indicator is a bother to some people - its easier to just move through without it, but if everyone is using it, it makes traffic more efficient and everyone benefits from it. On the other hand, if considerable share of people don't bother for extended time, everyone has the initiative to not bother as well.

c) Vaccinating against deadly disease

Let say there is a disease for which there is a effective vaccine. But the vaccine has nasty side-effect manifesting perhaps 1-10000 where treated patient dies or suffer horrible consequences. Let say that everyone is safe is everyone is vaccinated and collective immunity holds until share of vaccinated drops below certain level and ensuing epidemic creates massive suffering. Point is that no matter what are the odds, it is natural for a individual to try to avoid vaccinating, to enjoy safe environment and avoiding any risks associated with vaccine.

What are such situations called? These seems to me so ubiquitous and so relevant, but I don't know its name.

Answer 1

Sociological study often begins with what appears as simple and obvious, but gains depth through insights that challenge previous understandings. Sociologists research a wide array of phenomena, aiming to uncover underlying patterns and influences that shape society. The goal is to draw meaningful conclusions that apply to larger populations while acknowledging the potential for biases in research.

Step-by-step explanation:

When researching sociological phenomena, it's common to encounter a sense of “deceptive simplicity” where the subject matter appears straightforward until a new insight radically questions our prior assumptions. This moment is crucial in sociological studies as it signifies when a theory transforms from a truism to a valuable tool for understanding society. Sociologists delve into various aspects of social life, including psychological well-being, community cohesiveness, and patterns of behavior that contribute to both societal issues and everyday norms.

Social research aims to answer a wide array of questions, from the effects of home schooling on college success to the social dynamics behind movements like Black Lives Matter. These investigations often involve scrutinizing specific details to reveal broader patterns and influences, ultimately enhancing our grasp of the social world. As researchers gather data, whether through case studies or naturalistic observation, they face the challenge of generalizing findings to a larger population, as well as mitigating potential biases, such as the 'Bradley effect' or social desirability bias.