Tags:: #🌱 <% tp.file.cursor(3) %> Links:: <% tp.file.cursor(4) %> # Game Theory Game Theory is a branch of mathematics that analyzes strategies in systems with rational human agents. The theory splits social situations into a variety of typical "games," each with their own dilemmas and solutions. ### Nash Equilibrium [[Nash Equilibrium]]. ### Zero Versus Non-Zero Sum Games Zero sum games have no option that is good for everyone. Non-zero sum games have an option that is good for both parties. # Types of Games in Game Theory ### Coordination Game ![[Pasted image 20230215210941.png]] The problem is you don't have the opportunity to agree on the time and place of a meeting meaning you each have to guess where the other person will think to guess to meat. The solution is to have some sort of focal point. Some sort of shared knowledge on how to make a choice for a place and time for meeting. For example whichever place is closer to them both. ### Battle of The Sexes In the battle of the sexes one decision is slightly better for one one the top left and better for the other on the bottom right. For example, choosing which restaurant to go to. The solution is to take turns or flip a coin. ![[Pasted image 20230215210754.png]] ### Stag Hunt In this game the best scenario is to do whatever you think the partner will do but your partner is also trying to figure out what you will do. ![[Pasted image 20230215210701.png]] The solution is to have assurance that the partner will be trusted. That they will cooperate. This is built through trust. ### Chicken In chicken you want to do the opposite of what the partner will do. The optimal strategy is to do the opposite of what you think your partner will do. Although fear that the partner will defect is bad in stag hunt in chicken fear is the solution. If you're afraid that everyone else has shown they will defect than you have to cooperate. ### The Volunteers Dilemma Volunteers dilemma is a multi person chickens game. A mouse proposes to his housemates that one of them put a bell around the neck of the cat while she sleeps so they will be alerted to her approach. The problem, of course, is who will bell the cat and incur the risk of awakening her and getting eaten. Parallel dilemmas for humans include which passenger will overcome an aircraft hijacker, which bystander will rescue a person in distress, and which office worker will refill the coffeepot in a communal kitchen. It culminates in the bystander effect.  The volunteers game is once again to show fear that the other partners will defect. My solution to the volunteers dilemma is to almost always volunteer in a situation that won’t ruin me so that we can save vast amounts of time from awkwardly waiting for someone to volunteer. ### Prisoners Dilemma Classic game theory game. ![[Pasted image 20230215211023.png]] [[Infinite Prisoners Dilemma]]. ## Public Good Games Public good games are essentially prisoners dilemmas played with more than two players. ### Tragedy of the Commons [[Tragedy of the Commons]]. ### Embedded Games Embedded Games are games inside of game. For example, a prisoners dilemma game inside of a prisoners dilemma game. “What if they gave a war and nobody came.” - Carl Sandburg This is what happens when a larger group defects but the individual groups also defect forcing the larger group to cooperate. ## What We Can Learn From Game Theory - [[Infinite Prisoners Dilemma]]