Part of the dilemma arises because if both men know that the optimum strategy is to testify, then they both end up with lengthy 5 year jail sentences. This situation represents a form of plea bargaining – which is more common in America than Europe. even if the prisoner and his partner are innocent they are is placed in a situation where it is in his best interest to testify against their partner – thus increasing the likelihood of an innocent man being sent to jail. This brings in an interesting moral dilemma – ie. If prisoner B remains silent, then prisoner A would have been best testifying (goes free rather than 6 months).
Looking at it in reverse, if prisoner B testifies, then prisoner A would have been best testifying (gets 5 years rather than 10). So, what is the optimum strategy for prisoner A? In this version he should testify – because whichever strategy his partner chooses this gives prisoner A the best possible outcome.
However, if they both testify they will both get 5 years, and if they both remain silent then they will both get 6 months in jail. During interrogation they are told that if they testify to everything (ie betray their partner) then they will go free and their partner will get 10 years. Two prisoners are taken into custody and held in separate rooms. The most well known example is that of the Prisoner’s Dilemma. Game theory is an interesting branch of mathematics with links across a large number of disciplines – from politics to economics to biology and psychology. If you are a teacher then please also visit my new site: for over 2000+ pdf pages of resources for teaching IB maths! Does it Pay to be Nice? Game Theory and Evolution
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