In this section we give a mathematical description of Prisoner’s Dilemma and compare it to some similar games.
The Class-wide Prisoner’s Dilemma game we played in Section 4.3 has the payoff matrix given in Table 4.4.1 for each pair of players.
Table4.4.1.A Class-wide Prisoner’s Dilemma.
Player 2
Cooperate
Defect
Player 1
Cooperate
\((3, 3)\)
\((0, 5)\)
Defect
\((5, 0)\)
\((1, 1)\)
We can classify each of the values for the payoffs as follows:
Reward for Mutual Cooperation: \(R=3.\)
Punishment for Defecting: \(P=1.\)
Temptation to Defect: \(T=5.\)
Sucker’s Payoff: \(S=0.\)
In order for a game to be a variation of Prisoner’s Dilemma it must satisfy two conditions: List4.4.2.Conditions for a Prisoner’s Dilemma
\(\displaystyle T>R>P>S\)
\(\displaystyle (T+S)/2 \lt R\)
Let’s apply this description of Prisoner’s Dilemma to a few games we’ve seen. We can use the conditions to check if a game is really a Prisoner’s Dilemma.
Activity4.4.1.Description of conditions.
Describe conditions (1) and (2) in List 4.4.2 in words.
Hint.
\((T+S)/2\) is the average of \(T\) and \(S\text{.}\)
Activity4.4.2.The conditions for Classwide Prisoner’s Dilemma.
Show that the two conditions in List 4.4.2 hold for the Class-wide Prisoner’s Dilemma (Section 4.3).
Activity4.4.3.The conditions for Prisoner’s Dilemma.
Recall the matrix for Prisoner’s Dilemma from Example 4.2.3.
Table4.4.3.Prisoner’s Dilemma (again).
Prisoner 2
Confess
Don’t Confess
Prisoner 1
Confess
\((8, 8)\)
\((0.25, 10)\)
Don’t Confess
\((10, 0.25)\)
\((1, 1)\)
Determine \(R, P, T,\) and \(S\) for this game. Be careful, think about what cooperating versus defecting should mean. Show the conditions for Prisoner’s Dilemma are satisfied.
Hint.
Time in jail is bad, so the bigger the number, the worse you do; thus, it might be helpful to think of the payoffs as negatives.
Determine \(R, P, T,\) and \(S\) for this game. Again, think about what cooperating and defecting mean in this game. Determine if the conditions for Prisoner’s Dilemma are satisfied. If not, which condition(s) fail?
Activity4.4.5.The conditions on another game.
Consider the cooperate-defect game where the first row/column is C and the second row/column is D:
Determine \(R, P, T,\) and \(S\) for this game. Determine if the conditions for Prisoner’s Dilemma are satisfied. If not, which condition(s) fail?
Activity4.4.7.Compare the games.
The games in Activity 4.4.4, Activity 4.4.5, and Activity 4.4.6 are not true Prisoner’s Dilemmas. For each game, how do the changes in payoffs affect how you play? In particular, in Prisoner’s Dilemma, a player will generally choose to defect. This results in a non-optimal payoff for each player. Is this still true in Activity 4.4.4, Activity 4.4.5, and Activity 4.4.6? If possible, use the changes in the conditions (A) and (B) to help explain any differences in how one should play.
We can now define defection as the idea that if everyone did it, things would be worse for everyone. Yet, if only one (or a small) number did it, life would be sweeter for that individual. We can define cooperation as the act of resisting temptation for the betterment of all players.
Activity4.4.8.Example from real life.
Give an example of defection and cooperation from real life. Explain how your example of defection make things worse for everyone if everyone did it, but would benefit the defctor. Explain how cooperation is improves things for all, even if the payoff is smaller for the individual.
Match the reward for mutual cooeration (R), the punishment for defecting (P), the temptation to defect (T), and the sucker’s payoff (S) with their corresponding payoffs.
Make sure you identify which row (column) is cooperating and which is defecting first.
Match the reward for mutual cooeration (R), the punishment for defecting (P), the temptation to defect (T), and the sucker’s payoff (S) with their corresponding payoffs.
Make sure you identify which row (column) is cooperating and which is defecting first.
Match the reward for mutual cooeration (R), the punishment for defecting (P), the temptation to defect (T), and the sucker’s payoff (S) with their corresponding payoffs.
Make sure you identify which row (column) is cooperating and which is defecting first.
Match the reward for mutual cooeration (R), the punishment for defecting (P), the temptation to defect (T), and the sucker’s payoff (S) with their corresponding payoffs.
Make sure you identify which row (column) is cooperating and which is defecting first.
Match the reward for mutual cooeration (R), the punishment for defecting (P), the temptation to defect (T), and the sucker’s payoff (S) with their corresponding payoffs.
Make sure you identify which row (column) is cooperating and which is defecting first.
