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A sociological and economic phenomenon where individuals or groups engage in excessive competition for limited resources, often leading to diminishing returns and increased stress without significant societal progress.
教育内卷化导致学生过度内卷，影响身心健康。
Educational involution causes students to over-compete, affecting their physical and mental health.
The term originates from Chinese sociology and describes a self-reinforcing cycle of competition that traps participants in a zero-sum game.
Use '内卷化' to describe systemic competition that traps individuals in a cycle of stress and diminishing returns.
Do not confuse '内卷化' with healthy competition; it specifically refers to unproductive, zero-sum competition.
Derived from the Chinese term '内卷' (involution), originally a sociological concept describing a closed system where competition leads to stagnation, later extended to modern economic and social contexts.
The term is widely used in Chinese discussions about modern work culture, education, and economic systems. It emphasizes the negative effects of excessive competition without meaningful progress.