[asa] prisoner's dilemma

Here is the original version as I remember it.

Two suspects are apprehended for a crime. The state has a weak case and the
prosecuting attorney is therefore hoping to get the suspects to testify against
each other. They are taken to separate cells, and each are given this
identical message: If you testify against your partner, but he refuses to
testify against you, then you will go free and he will get the maximum prison
sentence. However if you and he both testify, you will both serve long (but
shorter than the maximum) sentences in prison for your crime. If both of you
refuse to testify then you will both serv short prison sentences and then go
free. Your partner is being given this same offer.

Summary: both are tempted to go for the best outcome for themselves (to go
free if they testify and the other doesn't). But since they will probably both
do that, they will implicate each other and get the second WORST option (the
long prison sentence). However if they could both just trust each other to
hold out, they could both get the SECOND BEST option of serving the short
sentence. But, unable to communicate, they just have to trust each other to try
this option. What would you do?

I like to modify this to a "rewards" scenario that I can have students pair off
and do in the classroom. Each student in a pair can choose between two
options, say "TRUST" or "GO FOR MORE". If one trusts & the other chooses to
trample them, then the Go for more person gets 3 m&ms and the trusting person
gets zilch. But if they both go for more, they both only get one. However if
they both choose to trust, then they both get two. Do this scenario several
times, and it is interesting to see the class dynamics. The totally trusting
pairs will net more m&ms between them than any other option. But if your
partner is trusting you, why not go for 3 m&ms instead of 2? And on it goes.
So is our morality really altruistic? Or just selfish at a higher community
level? A wise pastor of mine once referred to it as "enlightened self-interest".

--merv

To unsubscribe, send a message to majordomo@calvin.edu with
"unsubscribe asa" (no quotes) as the body of the message.
Received on Sun Aug 13 19:17:46 2006