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One of the most popular models in game theory, the prisoner’s dilemma represents a compelling story with a range of takeaways.
< ...Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Omnia peccata paria dicitis. Duo Reges: constructio interrete. Non enim solum Torquatus dixit quid sentiret, sed etiam cur. An est aliquid per se ipsum flagitiosum, etiamsi nulla comitetur infamia? Quis animo aequo videt eum, quem inpure ac flagitiose putet vivere? Est igitur officium eius generis, quod nec in bonis ponatur nec in contrariis. Ergo illi intellegunt quid Epicurus dicat, ego non intellego? Eodem modo is enim tibi nemo dabit, quod, expetendum sit, id esse laudabile. Huic mori optimum esse propter desperationem sapientiae, illi propter spem vivere.
Contineo me ab exemplis. Incommoda autem et commoda-ita enim estmata et dustmata appello-communia esse voluerunt, paria noluerunt. Non quaeritur autem quid naturae tuae consentaneum sit, sed quid disciplinae. Et tamen ego a philosopho, si afferat eloquentiam, non asperner, si non habeat, non admodum flagitem. Sed non sunt in eo genere tantae commoditates corporis tamque productae temporibus tamque multae. Res enim concurrent contrariae. Duarum enim vitarum nobis erunt instituta capienda.
Quamquam tu hanc copiosiorem etiam soles dicere. Philosophi autem in suis lectulis plerumque moriuntur. Materiam vero rerum et copiam apud hos exilem, apud illos uberrimam reperiemus. Quis suae urbis conservatorem Codrum, quis Erechthei filias non maxime laudat? Qua tu etiam inprudens utebare non numquam. His enim rebus detractis negat se reperire in asotorum vita quod reprehendat. Omnes enim iucundum motum, quo sensus hilaretur.
- Identify win-wins.
Take time to consider the possible win-wins, even with potential competitors. What ar ...
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Sed tu istuc dixti bene Latine, parum plane. Tu autem inter haec tantam multitudinem hominum interiectam non vides nec laetantium nec dolentium? Potius inflammat, ut coercendi magis quam dedocendi esse videantur. Quid enim necesse est, tamquam meretricem in matronarum coetum, sic voluptatem in virtutum concilium adducere? Certe non potest. Hoc ne statuam quidem dicturam pater aiebat, si loqui posset. Sic consequentibus vestris sublatis prima tolluntur. Incommoda autem et commoda-ita enim estmata et dustmata appello-communia esse voluerunt, paria noluerunt. Et hunc idem dico, inquieta sed ad virtutes et ad vitia nihil interesse. Quid enim de amicitia statueris utilitatis causa expetenda vides.
Sic, et quidem diligentius saepiusque ista loquemur inter nos agemusque communiter. Torquatus, is qui consul cum Cn. Quis est tam dissimile homini. Illud quaero, quid ei, qui in voluptate summum bonum ponat, consentaneum sit dicere. Non est ista, inquam, Piso, magna dissensio. Non quaero, quid dicat, sed quid convenienter possit rationi et sententiae suae dicere. Luxuriam non reprehendit, modo sit vacua infinita cupiditate et timore. Quaesita enim virtus est, non quae relinqueret naturam, sed quae tueretur. Quid, quod res alia tota est?
In real life, we mostly deal with repeated Prisoner's Dilemmas, where we can choose strategies to reward cooperation or punish betrayal over time. The incentives that individual decision-makers face are also altered by collective action such as rules, laws, and social punishment.
We generally also have the opportunity to communicate within our versions of the prisoner’s dilemma, so we can negotiate and seek a level of confidence not possible in the story.
Listen to this amazing podcast episode of golden balls.
Radiolab presents a truly gripping investigation into a game show based on the prisoner's dilemma. It really is fantastic storytelling and is highly recommended as a fascinating insight into this model.
Global warming.
If countries acted cooperatively, they would cut carbon emissions to help reduce global warming, possibly taking a hit to their economy as a result (let’s put renewable and green driven economies to one side for this example). However, if a country believes that another country will not take the action required then they might fear for the resulting economic advantage they will gain. The mistrust underlying a cooperative strategy, even when it's in everyone's interests, might lead to an individual strategy rather than a cooperative one.
Cigarette advertising.
A common example cited in relation to the prisoner’s dilemma is the cigarette industry. When cigarette advertising was legalised in the US competing firms theoretically could benefit from not advertising and sharing the market. If one advertised, they would gain a dominant share, however, if both advertised they would split the market and have less profit because of advertising costs. It is of course more complex than that, particularly in terms of growing a market with advertising, but that challenge plays itself out in a range of contexts.
The Prioner's Dillema is part of game theory, and provides an understanding of how we can work together, or not.
Use the following examples of connected and complementary models to weave the prisoner’s dilemma into your broader latticework of mental models. Alternatively, discover your own connections by exploring the category list above.
Connected models:
- Game theory: the prisoner’s dilemma is a model from game theory.
- Mutually assured destruction: in terms of finding a shared, often counterintuitive, interest.
Complementary models:
- Red Queen effect: in considering a potentially escalating competitive environment.
- Divide and conquer: splitting the battle rather than fighting head on.
- Cialdini’s six principles of influence: to create greater connection and trust.
- BATNA: in the context of negotiated solutions.
- SCARF model: to understand when mistrust and threat dominate.
The Prisoner's Dilemma was originally posed by mathematicians Merrill Flood and Melvin Dresher while working for Rand corporation in the 1950s. It was actually named sometime later by Princeton mathematician Albert Tucker.
The model gained a boost of profile when it was featured in Robert Axelrod’s book, The Evolution of Cooperation in 1994. Now in its fifth edition, the book is the foundation for the ‘tit for tat’ strategy outlined in this model’s summary during iterative prisoner’s dilemma scenarios. Though he did note it was dependent on a number of factors. You can read more about his research in this New York Times article.
Finally, if you want to experience the concepts in the Prisoner's Dilemma, it's worth investing about 30m into this free interactive and educational game.
My Notes
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