# @science on Instagram

- **Type:** Image
- **Original URL:** https://www.instagram.com/p/DWMVEhhE_B4
- **Gondola URL:** https://gondola.cc/posts/60904247-science-instagram
- **Thumbnail:** https://img.gondola.cc/tr:w-,h-,fo-auto/postThumbnails/6c65fa5afc.jpg
- **Posted:** 2026-03-22T16:00:36.000+00:00
- **Account Owner:** Science 🧬 (@science) — https://gondola.cc/science

## Caption

Crab mentality, also known as crab theory, the crab-in-a-bucket mentality, or the crab-bucket effect, describes the mindset of people who try to prevent others from gaining a favorable position, even if achieving that position does not directly affect those trying to stop them. It is often summarized with the phrase: "If I can't have it, neither can you." ⁠
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The metaphor comes from anecdotal stories about the behavior of crabs in an open bucket: if one crab starts to climb out, others will pull it back down, ensuring the group's collective failure. A similar idea in human behavior is that members of a group will try to undermine anyone who succeeds beyond others out of envy, jealousy, resentment, spite, conspiracy, or competitive feelings, to stop their progress.⁠
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#psychology #science #humanbehavior #behavior #crab

## Stats

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- **Likes:** 2,123
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- **Comments:** 38

## Tags

behavior, humanbehavior, science, crab, psychology

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