MENTAL MODEL · M4633

Zero-Sum Game

DecideHigh supportGame Theory

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Version 1.0.0 · Updated 2026-07-30

CORE DEFINITION

The sum of participants' payoffs is zero (or constant), and one party's gain is exactly the other's loss. Poker, chess, and gambling are all zero-sum games. Scaffolding role: Identify non-cooperative scenarios. In zero-sum games, cooperation cannot create additional value; fixed resources can only be allocated through competition. However, in reality, many seemingly zero-sum situations (such as business competition) may actually be positive-sum games, and the key lies in whether ways to create value can be found.

SCAFFOLDING EFFECT

psychology

Reduce cognitive load

Identify non-cooperative scenarios. In zero-sum games, cooperation cannot create additional value; fixed resources can only be allocated through competition. However, in reality, many seemingly zero-sum situations (such as business competition) may actually be positive-sum games, and the key lies in whether ways to create value can be found.

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Anchor fast decisions

In a zero-sum game, the sum of all participants' payoffs is always zero (or constant), and one party's gain is strictly equal to the other's loss. This determines that participants are in pure distributional conflict rather than cooperative value creation.

MINIMUM ACTION

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Practice this model in one real situation:

Determine whether the sum of payoffs is constant
If constant, recognize this as a distributional conflict
Assess whether external resources can be introduced to transform it into a positive-sum game
Choose competition or exit strategy accordingly.

Check to track your progress (stored locally)

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Source support: Explicit

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zh.wikipedia.orghttps://zh.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E9%9B%B6%E5%92%8C%E5%8D%9A%E5%BC%88ZH · Explicit
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