Temptation to Defect

Temptation to defect occurs when an individual or group considers abandoning a cooperative agreement or shared goal for personal gain or immediate benefit. It often arises in situations where trust and mutual effort are expected, but risk or temptation makes deviation appealing. For example, a team member might be tempted to withhold effort if they believe they can achieve better personal outcomes by acting selfishly, even though cooperation would benefit the group overall. Managing this temptation involves understanding the incentives and potential consequences to encourage continued collaboration and trust.