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
Get the Tinbergen trapmug. A partner in a relationship (female/male) whom does not make any move whatsoever or allow you to. This usually leads to cheating or an ending to the relationship. When you refuse to do either of the two options, you are stuck hence the word "Boner Trap."
by EthanFeng October 13, 2015
Get the Boner Trapmug. a solution that is counter-intuitive to the problem. Its name derives from the Chinese finger trap which in order to free your fingers, you have to push your fingers instead of pulling.
by Vandena January 13, 2021
Get the (Chinese) finger trap solutionmug. Oh? Are you thirsty? Well, here’s some water….*Takes glass away* SIKE!
Dude, stop thirst trapping me!
Dude, stop thirst trapping me!
by Jaundice Depp November 7, 2023
Get the Thirst Trapmug. Having a theme that makes you look cool, such as putting the shaka close you your face sticking your tongue out looking high as hell. This is usually what young rappers do, trying to prove you are cool and party a lot. Also in a dark room with your camera flash on
Friend: Dude this party is lit
Soundcloud rappers: Yeah bro lets have a trap theme to show we can party hard.
Soundcloud rappers: Yeah bro lets have a trap theme to show we can party hard.
by Waristin June 4, 2018
Get the Trap Thememug. by Soggybloowaffle September 18, 2021
Get the Trapmug.