The Prisoner's Dilemma | Baamboozle - Baamboozle

English 12 Public

A review of game theory and the prisoner's dilemma

Study Slideshow

Give an example of a paradox.

For example: “This sentence is a lie.” There are others too, like time travel paradoxes.

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What is a paradox?

Something that, based on logic, cannot be true and cannot be false.

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In what way is the Prisoner's Dilemma about cooperation?

In it, we have a choice to help someone else, at a cost to ourselves, or to not help and, thereby, advance our own self-interest.

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How might the Prisoner's Dilemma be relevant to business?

E.g., if one business spends money on advertising it will increase its market share. If both companies do it, the market share will remain the same.

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How might the Prisoner's Dilemma be relevant to war?

E.g., if one country attacks the other it may win the war, but if both countries attack they may wipe each other out.

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How might the Prisoner's Dilemma be relevant to your daily life?

E.g., if you're on the phone with customer service. If you're rude you might get what you want quickly, but if you're both rude you might not get anywhere.

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Researchers say that when people play the Prisoner's Dilemma lots of times, they become more likely to cooperate. Why do you think that is?

If you're never going to see this person again, then it doesn't matter if you work against them, but if you need to work together often, it's best to cooperate.

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Give an example of a time when you think it is best to be selfish.

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Give an example of a time when you think it is best to cooperate with others.

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Do you think people always act in their own best interest? Why/why not?

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Do you think people are more selfish nowadays than they were in the past? Why/why not?

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It is Saturday morning. You have plans to visit your brother and his family. He calls you and asks if you can come early to help him tidy the house. How is this a Prisoner's Dilemma?

Because it asks you to choose between cooperating with your brother, or maximising your self-interest.

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