![search](https://modelthinkers.com/public/assets/images/index/search_icon.png)
![Prisoner's Dilemma](https://modelthinkers.com/storage/app/public/model_image/RsCxV9QexizQNUGQ01XooUQBw0hoyk03epK8af1t.png)
![Prisoner's Dilemma](https://modelthinkers.com/storage/app/public/model_image/s0T4aY7V9l1XeSTe5GAmbcNAExGfNn8LmUxsIydR.png)
![view](https://modelthinkers.com/public/assets/images/common/eye.png)
![linkedin](https://modelthinkers.com/public/assets/images/common/Linkdin.png)
![twitter](https://modelthinkers.com/public/assets/images/common/Twitter.png)
![facebook](https://modelthinkers.com/public/assets/images/common/Facebook.png)
![google](https://modelthinkers.com/public/assets/images/common/mail.png)
![linkedin](https://modelthinkers.com/public/assets/images/common/Linkdin.png)
![twitter](https://modelthinkers.com/public/assets/images/common/Twitter.png)
![facebook](https://modelthinkers.com/public/assets/images/common/Facebook.png)
![google](https://modelthinkers.com/public/assets/images/common/mail.png)
One of the most popular models in game theory, the prisoner’s dilemma represents a compelling story with a range of takeaways.
< ...Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Illi enim inter se dissentiunt. Et certamen honestum et disputatio splendida! omnis est enim de virtutis dignitate contentio. Graecis hoc modicum est: Leonidas, Epaminondas, tres aliqui aut quattuor; Facile est hoc cernere in primis puerorum aetatulis. Ita multo sanguine profuso in laetitia et in victoria est mortuus. Scrupulum, inquam, abeunti; Quid igitur dubitamus in tota eius natura quaerere quid sit effectum? Duo Reges: constructio interrete. Ne amores quidem sanctos a sapiente alienos esse arbitrantur. Intrandum est igitur in rerum naturam et penitus quid ea postulet pervidendum;
Bork
Satis est ad hoc responsum. Sit hoc ultimum bonorum, quod nunc a me defenditur; Nam de isto magna dissensio est. Nihil enim iam habes, quod ad corpus referas; Tibi hoc incredibile, quod beatissimum. Satisne ergo pudori consulat, si quis sine teste libidini pareat? Incommoda autem et commoda-ita enim estmata et dustmata appello-communia esse voluerunt, paria noluerunt. Idem iste, inquam, de voluptate quid sentit? Perturbationes autem nulla naturae vi commoventur, omniaque ea sunt opiniones ac iudicia levitatis.
![](https://modelthinkers.com/public/assets/images/common/Linkdin.png)
![](https://modelthinkers.com/public/assets/images/common/Twitter.png)
![](https://modelthinkers.com/public/assets/images/common/Facebook.png)
![](https://modelthinkers.com/public/assets/images/common/mail.png)
- Identify win-wins.
Take time to consider the possible win-wins, even with potential competitors. What ar ...
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Piso igitur hoc modo, vir optimus tuique, ut scis, amantissimus. Ait enim se, si uratur, Quam hoc suave! dicturum. Duo Reges: constructio interrete.
Bork Quam tu ponis in verbis, ego positam in re putabam. Quis Aristidem non mortuum diligit? Tu enim ista lenius, hic Stoicorum more nos vexat. Rapior illuc, revocat autem Antiochus, nec est praeterea, quem audiamus. Quamquam id quidem licebit iis existimare, qui legerint. Cur post Tarentum ad Archytam? Miserum hominem! Si dolor summum malum est, dici aliter non potest.
Sed residamus, inquit, si placet. An tu me de L. Quia nec honesto quic quam honestius nec turpi turpius. Fieri, inquam, Triari, nullo pacto potest, ut non dicas, quid non probes eius, a quo dissentias.
In real life, we mostly deal with repeated Prisoner's Dilemmas, where we can choose strategies to reward cooperation or punish betrayal over time. The incentives that individual decision-makers face are also altered by collective action such as rules, laws, and social punishment.
We generally also have the opportunity to communicate within our versions of the prisoner’s dilemma, so we can negotiate and seek a level of confidence not possible in the story.
Listen to this amazing podcast episode of golden balls.
Radiolab presents a truly gripping investigation into a game show based on the prisoner's dilemma. It really is fantastic storytelling and is highly recommended as a fascinating insight into this model.
Global warming.
If countries acted cooperatively, they would cut carbon emissions to help reduce global warming, possibly taking a hit to their economy as a result (let’s put renewable and green driven economies to one side for this example). However, if a country believes that another country will not take the action required then they might fear for the resulting economic advantage they will gain. The mistrust underlying a cooperative strategy, even when it's in everyone's interests, might lead to an individual strategy rather than a cooperative one.
Cigarette advertising.
A common example cited in relation to the prisoner’s dilemma is the cigarette industry. When cigarette advertising was legalised in the US competing firms theoretically could benefit from not advertising and sharing the market. If one advertised, they would gain a dominant share, however, if both advertised they would split the market and have less profit because of advertising costs. It is of course more complex than that, particularly in terms of growing a market with advertising, but that challenge plays itself out in a range of contexts.
The Prioner's Dillema is part of game theory, and provides an understanding of how we can work together, or not.
Use the following examples of connected and complementary models to weave the prisoner’s dilemma into your broader latticework of mental models. Alternatively, discover your own connections by exploring the category list above.
Connected models:
- Game theory: the prisoner’s dilemma is a model from game theory.
- Mutually assured destruction: in terms of finding a shared, often counterintuitive, interest.
Complementary models:
- Red Queen effect: in considering a potentially escalating competitive environment.
- Divide and conquer: splitting the battle rather than fighting head on.
- Cialdini’s six principles of influence: to create greater connection and trust.
- BATNA: in the context of negotiated solutions.
- SCARF model: to understand when mistrust and threat dominate.
The Prisoner's Dilemma was originally posed by mathematicians Merrill Flood and Melvin Dresher while working for Rand corporation in the 1950s. It was actually named sometime later by Princeton mathematician Albert Tucker.
The model gained a boost of profile when it was featured in Robert Axelrod’s book, The Evolution of Cooperation in 1994. Now in its fifth edition, the book is the foundation for the ‘tit for tat’ strategy outlined in this model’s summary during iterative prisoner’s dilemma scenarios. Though he did note it was dependent on a number of factors. You can read more about his research in this New York Times article.
Finally, if you want to experience the concepts in the Prisoner's Dilemma, it's worth investing about 30m into this free interactive and educational game.
![](https://modelthinkers.com/public/assets/images/common/notebook.png)
Oops, That’s Members’ Only!
Fortunately, it only costs US$5/month to Join ModelThinkers and access everything so that you can rapidly discover, learn, and apply the world’s most powerful ideas.
ModelThinkers membership at a glance:
![Small mark](https://modelthinkers.com/public/assets/images/price/Small mark.png)
![Small mark](https://modelthinkers.com/public/assets/images/price/Small mark.png)
![Small mark](https://modelthinkers.com/public/assets/images/price/Small mark.png)
![Small mark](https://modelthinkers.com/public/assets/images/price/Small mark.png)
![Small mark](https://modelthinkers.com/public/assets/images/price/Small mark.png)
![Small mark](https://modelthinkers.com/public/assets/images/price/Small mark.png)
“Yeah, we hate pop ups too. But we wanted to let you know that, with ModelThinkers, we’re making it easier for you to adapt, innovate and create value. We hope you’ll join us and the growing community of ModelThinkers today.”