Business Insider: Prisoner’s Dilemma
https://www.businessinsider.com/prisoners-dilemma-in-real-life-2013-7
This paper describes a real experiment conducted on both ordinary students and random prisoners, that is intended to simulate the famous Prisoner’s Dilemma. Firstly, the paper separates the experiment into two portions: simultaneous and sequential. Motivated by small rewards, the prisoners are split into pairs, and asked to betray each other, first without contact or knowledge of the other’s decision, and the second time after knowing what the other decided to do. The students are also given the same prompt. Mathematically, the paper details that it is most beneficial in both situations to betray one’s partner, as this would lead to the objectively best scenario for the individual. However, the optimal situation requires complete trust and cooperation. Interestingly, the group of prisoners had a higher rate of blind trust, as even in the simultaneous situation, a much higher percentage cooperated than did groups of students. Students only showed a greater motive to cooperate in the sequential situation, when they could be certain of their partner’s intentions.
I completely agree with the paper, that occasionally, our mathematical calculations encourage us to assume the worst of others. As shown by the results, it is clear that while we expected more prisoners to protect their own self-interests, they actually considered each other even more so than the students did. There is certainly a social aspect to game theory, that completely changes the overall result. In this situation, camaraderie and the trust that your partner would not use your good intention to achieve the best possible situation for themselves is paramount to achieve the optimal solution. It also proves that there is an emotional aspect that overcomes the intellectual; despite knowing the best personal outcome, a significant percentage of prisoners still chose to risk themselves on the chance that their partner would reciprocate.
The paper, in the description of the optimal individual solution, references the Nash Equilibrium, which was taught in class. The Nash equilibrium assures us that it is always optimal to betray your partner, as in both situations (when the partner confesses against you or doesn’t), confessing allows for the best possible personal outcome. In addition, the course also references the external social factors involved in game theory;