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. 
by The Bam Bam dictionary September 14, 2017
Get the trap cookiemug. by Hot dog Waterman May 23, 2025
Get the Trippy Trapmug. Any partner who, at first glance, appears to have the willingness and desire to work extra hard to receive your meat. Only later will you discover that they have limited to zero interest in said meat, but would really only like to relieve you of your worldly possessions, causing you to realize you've fallen into a "dong trap".
Jeez, I hope Steve realizes that he's fallen into a dong trap with that new adorable boy toy of his!
by Hogleg samurai November 13, 2016
Get the dong trapmug. Has no worth
I’m gonna repeat since you didn’t understand it the first time. Just cause you don’t get it doesn’t mean it has no worth. It’s satirical trap music.
by valor80 July 27, 2018
Get the satirical trap musicmug.