Prisoners’ Dilemma

Prisoners’ Dilemma An interesting situation from Game

Theory.

Can teach us a lot about social problems in real life.

The Situation: Listen to the situation, and think

about it.

Do NOT talk to your friends about it yet!

After listening, think and make a decision. Write your decision down on your paper.

You are a criminal. You were breaking into Tom Cruise's house and stealing some of his stuff, and you have been captured by the police. They have also captured your partner in crime.

You are being kept in separate rooms, and are not allowed to communicate with each other. You are told that you will both be given the same choice:

The police do not have enough evidence to convict you both of the serious crime you committed.

You can either stay silent about the details of the crime, or betray your partner by telling the police what they did.

If you both stay silent, and don't tell the police anything, they will only be able to convict you of a lesser crime (trespassing) and you will each go to jail for 6 months.

If only one of you betrays, then the one who stays silent will be convicted of the more serious crime, and go to jail for 10 years.

However, the betrayer will be set free now to reward them for helping the police.

If you and your partner both betray each other, then the police will still reward you a bit for cooperating, but you will both still go to jail for 6 years.

So what would you chose to do if it were you in this situation? Would you stay silent or betray your partner?

WHY?

Think silently, and then write your answer.

So what would you chose to do if it were you in this situation? Would you stay silent or betray your partner?

WHY?

Think silently, and then write your answer.

Betray Stay Silent

Why did you make the choice you did?

Why did you make the choice you did?

An Example Have you heard of an “arms race” ?

Arms Race