The Prisoner's Dilemma
This is something I've been turning over in my mind lately, and I'd like to get y'all's opinion. It's a classic logic puzzle and component of Game Theory called the Prisoner's Dilemma.
You are a bank robber. You and your partner try to rob a bank, but you fail and are caught by the police. The police place you in a seperate room from your partner and inform you that you are going to spend 10 years in prison for armed robbery. They also know that you and your partner are part of an organized crime ring, but they don't have the evidence to prove it in court, so they offer you a deal.
The police want you to testify against your partner in writing. If you agree to this, you'll get 5 years and your partner will get 25.
"What's the catch?" you ask. The police liutenant says, "Your partner is being offered the same deal, and if you both squeal on each other you'll each get 20 years."
So, if blue represents you and red your partner:
Your parter remains silent
Your partner testifies
You remain silent
10 yr / 10 yr
25 yr / 5 yr
You testify
5 yr / 25 yr
20 yr / 20 yr
Neither of you will be allowed to know the results or communicate with one another until both of you have made your decision.
What do you do?
Poll The Prisoner's Dilemma
If you have time, leave a comment with your analysis--I'd love to hear your reasons as much as your decisions.
You are a bank robber. You and your partner try to rob a bank, but you fail and are caught by the police. The police place you in a seperate room from your partner and inform you that you are going to spend 10 years in prison for armed robbery. They also know that you and your partner are part of an organized crime ring, but they don't have the evidence to prove it in court, so they offer you a deal.
The police want you to testify against your partner in writing. If you agree to this, you'll get 5 years and your partner will get 25.
"What's the catch?" you ask. The police liutenant says, "Your partner is being offered the same deal, and if you both squeal on each other you'll each get 20 years."
So, if blue represents you and red your partner:
Your parter remains silent
Your partner testifies
You remain silent
10 yr / 10 yr
25 yr / 5 yr
You testify
5 yr / 25 yr
20 yr / 20 yr
Neither of you will be allowed to know the results or communicate with one another until both of you have made your decision.
What do you do?
Poll The Prisoner's Dilemma
If you have time, leave a comment with your analysis--I'd love to hear your reasons as much as your decisions.