Marriage Advice via Game Theory
https://www.thedailybeast.com/marriage-and-the-art-of-game-theory?ref=scroll
We live in a world defined by choice and circumstance. One of the most powerful theories discussed in class can be applicable from the most mundane and the most complicated situations we face: game theory. Game theory is defined as the analysis of strategies for responding to competitive situations where the outcome of a player’s choice of action depends crucially on the actions of the other players. Optimally, we wish to establish a Nash equilibrium in such situations, where all players are utilizing a Nash strategy. Simply put, a Nash strategy is the aim of doing what is best for yourself, given what others around you are doing. Essentially, the best response to a situation that yields the highest payoff. Living in a civilization driven by self-interest, game theory immediately becomes a relevant concept to everyday life.
In the linked article, columnist Paula Szuchman applies the notion of game theory to a typical marriage. I thought this was interesting because it is unusual to utilize game theory to solve relationship problems. Whether or not you are married, plan to be married, or have been married, marriage is a concept that relates to every single one of us in one way or another. Szuchman utilizes game theory to look at possible outcomes in a hypothesized argument that married couple Joe and Lisa are having. Joe and Lisa have been ordering in pizza for the past week because they are out of groceries and their refrigerator is empty. Joe refuses to go grocery-shopping as he has done so for the past five Saturdays, and Lisa refuses to go grocery-shopping as she does the rest of the cleaning, laundry, and housework. Thus, both are refusing to buy groceries, are suffering from severe indigestion from eating out every night, and are opponents in a traditional game theory situation. Szuchman claims there are two possible strategies that can result from this situation: cooperative and noncooperative. If Joe and Lisa remain uncooperative with each other and both refuse to buy groceries, this can lead to extremely unhealthy eating habits. A cooperative strategy would lead to meatloaf, roast chicken, quinoa salad, romantic dinners, and all sorts of other great stuff that married people can enjoy if they put their minds to it. That strategy involves changing the rules of the game by devising incentives so both Joel and Lisa are more motivated to cooperate than to have the last word, as shown below:
| Lisa Buys Groceries | Lisa Does Not Buy Groceries | |
| Joe Buys Groceries | No alternate consequences for both; may result in less hostility and more cooperation | Lisa must give up TV privileges for the week and Joe gets to pick what to watch; more home-cooked meals |
| Joe Does Not Buy Groceries | Joe must give up TV privileges for the week and Lisa gets to pick what to watch; more home-cooked meals | Lisa and Joe suffer from further indigestion and unhealthy food habits |
There may not be a clearly dominant strategy in this situation, but having worse consequences for the other (i.e. losing TV privileges) if one buys groceries motivates both to want to buy groceries and eat healthier foods.