Final answer:
Psychologists can help people avoid social traps by promoting the social-responsibility norm, encouraging personal obligation to act in critical situations and counteracting the bystander effect.
Step-by-step explanation:
To help people avoid social traps, psychologists should promote an increased awareness of the social-responsibility norm. This concept involves the expectation that people will help those in need, counteracting the diffusion of responsibility that can occur in social situations. For example, when an emergency arises, people often assume that others will intervene, a phenomenon known as the bystander effect. However, when individuals feel a personal obligation or social responsibility, they are more likely to take action and not fall into social traps, such as inaction during critical moments. The social-responsibility norm could encourage individuals to not only be aware but also to feel a sense of duty to act, which can override the diffusion of responsibility. Increasing awareness of this norm can help individuals recognize when they might be stepping into a social trap and encourage them to act with the understanding that their participation is valuable and necessary.