Tinbergen Trap is a setup where someone uses “an exaggerated signal to trigger a natural reaction”… then punishes the person for it.
Tinbergen trap is named after scientist Niko Tinbergen, who showed animals fall for “supernormal stimuli” like giant fake eggs or female fireflies faking mating flashes to lure males to eat them.
*In human culture, it’s when influencers or clout-chasers bait attention (like filming in gyms) and then shame people for responding in completely normal ways.
Tinbergen trap & Tinbergened creation was first created by Gary Robert Frank, thefrankapproach.ca
Tinbergen trap is named after scientist Niko Tinbergen, who showed animals fall for “supernormal stimuli” like giant fake eggs or female fireflies faking mating flashes to lure males to eat them.
*In human culture, it’s when influencers or clout-chasers bait attention (like filming in gyms) and then shame people for responding in completely normal ways.
Tinbergen trap & Tinbergened creation was first created by Gary Robert Frank, thefrankapproach.ca
“That gym video was a total Tinbergen trap… she dressed for attention, then blasted the guy for looking”
“Clickbait headlines are digital Tinbergen Traps…they exaggerate just to get a reflex reaction”
“Dude, I got Tinbergened. They edited the clip to make me look like a creep”
“Clickbait headlines are digital Tinbergen Traps…they exaggerate just to get a reflex reaction”
“Dude, I got Tinbergened. They edited the clip to make me look like a creep”
by TheFrankApproach.ca October 3, 2025
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a person who more readily relates to the confined and definite words on paper than to the applications or even realities of the three dimensional plane. Although this usually describes a way of thinking, it can also describe someone who lacks original thought, or is afraid of new ideas.
Student 1: Did you hear what happened with Abby? She stole my idea for the term paper in Dr. James's class! Now I have to come up with something else, or he'll think I stole it from her!
Student 2: Abby is such a paper thinker.
Student 2: Abby is such a paper thinker.
by uvgeek December 28, 2008
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Get the Douche Tanker mug.Girl 1: Hey, Steve is totally hot, you should ask him out.
Girl 2: He is hot, but a total dick thinker. I'd never be able to trust him.
Girl 2: He is hot, but a total dick thinker. I'd never be able to trust him.
by Aphrodite1972 January 15, 2012
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Get the Nipple Tickering mug.A person who makes facial expressions based on what they are thinking about. Usually unaware they do so, or simply don't care.
Johnny: *sneers at nothing in particular.*
Dave: What the hell is up with Johnny's face?
Marc: Oh, he's just a face thinker, don't worry about it.
Dave: What the hell is up with Johnny's face?
Marc: Oh, he's just a face thinker, don't worry about it.
by Hypok November 6, 2016
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