University Of Maryland Psychology Prof. Blows Up The Internet With Extra Credit Challenge

Dylan Selterman told his social psychology students that they could earn either two points or six points of extra credit on their final papers. Of course, there was a catch: If more than 10 percent of the class chose six points, nobody in the class would get the extra credit.

Selterman said that he's been doing this with students since 2008. He thinks of it as an example of the tragedy of the commons, or the dilemma of acting in one’s own self-interest versus acting for the greater good of the group. So far, only one class has managed to get the extra credit.

A full on debate has been taking over social media, based on the question of whether or not an entire group should made to suffer because of the selfish acts of the few?

Selterman claims that when presented with a chance to gain, people will maximize their individual benefit over the common good, even if it risks harming others. He hopes that in the future people won’t be as selfish, and he says he will continue to present students with the dilemma.