A game frequently displayed in television police dramas. Two partners in crime are separated into separate rooms at the police station and given a similar deal.
If one implicates the other, he may go free while the other receives a life in prison. If neither implicates the other, both are given moderate sentences, and if both implicate the other, the sentences for both are severe.
Each player has a dominant strategy to implicate the other, and thus in equilibrium each receives a harsh punishment,
but both would be better off if each remained silent. In a repeated or iterated prisoner's dilemma, cooperation may be sustained through
trigger strategies such as tit for tat.
updated: 15 August 2005
HOW TO CITE THIS ENTRY
- To learn more:
- Play the iterated prisoner's dilemma on the applets page.
- See news articles about the prisoner's dilemma
- The Prisoner's dilemma is featured in many movies.