What scenario describes a conflict where parties pursue their own self-interest, leading to mutually destructive behavior?

The scenario described in the question aligns with the concept of a social trap. A social trap occurs when individuals or groups, acting in their own self-interest, inadvertently create negative outcomes for themselves and others. This situation often arises in resource management or environmental contexts, where the immediate benefits from individual actions (like overfishing, pollution, or excessive resource consumption) lead to broader negative consequences that ultimately harm the collective.

In a social trap, individuals may find it tempting to prioritize their immediate gains without considering the long-term repercussions on the community or environment. This behavior can spiral into a mutually destructive scenario, as everyone acting out of self-interest can lead to depletion of shared resources or collective harm, illustrating the tension between individual desires and communal welfare.

While the other scenarios listed—such as the prisoner's dilemma, collective action problem, and conflict spiral—each capture different aspects of conflict and cooperation, they do not specifically emphasize the self-interested actions leading to overall destructive outcomes as directly as the concept of a social trap does.