Prisoner's Dilemma
Version 1.0.0 · Updated 2026-07-30
CORE DEFINITION
Two accomplices in a crime are interrogated separately. If both remain silent (cooperate), each gets 1 year; if one betrays and the other remains silent, the betrayer is released, and the silent one gets 3 years; if both betray, each gets 2 years. Individual rational choice leads to a collectively suboptimal outcome. Scaffolding role: A touchstone for trust mechanisms. It explains why individuals may still choose to defect even when cooperation is beneficial to both. In business cooperation, international relations, and environmental protection, establishing long-term repeated games (reputation mechanisms, punishment mechanisms) is key to resolving the Prisoner's Dilemma.
SCAFFOLDING EFFECT
Reduce cognitive load
A touchstone for trust mechanisms. It explains why individuals may still choose to defect even when cooperation is beneficial to both. In business cooperation, international relations, and environmental protection, establishing long-term repeated games (reputation mechanisms, punishment mechanisms) is key to resolving the Prisoner's Dilemma.
Anchor fast decisions
The Prisoner's Dilemma is a game where each of two players chooses "cooperate" or "defect": for the individual, defection is a dominant strategy, but the outcome when both defect is worse than when both cooperate, revealing that individual rationality leads to collective irrationality.
MINIMUM ACTION
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Source support: Explicit
- zh.wikipedia.orghttps://zh.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E5%9B%9A%E5%BE%92%E5%9B%B0%E5%A2%83verified
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