Considering Others Solves the Prisoner’s Dilemma
Many things in life can be considered a “game” in game theory sense. From waking up in the morning to littering, all these seemingly normal actions can be considered games. Simple actions such as eating out with friends can easily turn into a prisoner dilemma. Eight friends go out to lunch together and plan to split the bill equally. There are two things on the menu a regular burger that costs $4 and a deluxe burger that costs $8, although the regular burger is worth $5 and the deluxe is actually worth $6. However, game theory suggests that when all eight people eat together they will all splurge on the deluxe burgers. This is because they believe that others will do the same don’t want to spend the same amount of money for a regular burger that others will get for a deluxe burger. The only way to escape the prisoner’s dilemma is to help others this is because if both players do what is in the best interest of the other player then they will get the maximum effect.
As discussed in lecture, the basic premise of the prisoner’s dilemma is that there are two people arrested for committing a crime and are interrogated in separate rooms. Each of them have to choose between confessing or not confessing to the crime. Each of the two criminals has the temptations to betray their partner to get a lesser sentence. However, if they both betray one another they both get long sentences. Therefore, both players in the game must choose what is in their best interest, however, what may be in both player’s best interests may be detrimental to the group. If both players decide to stop and consider what is in the best interest of their partner than they both will not confess and get the least amount of prison sentencing. This same situation applies to other everyday games such as the eating out example. If everyone is considerate of everyone else they will order the regular burger which is valued higher than the price unlike the deluxe one, therefore everyone would be benefiting because they have considered others.
Article Link:
https://kids.frontiersin.org/article/10.3389/frym.2017.00066