Using Game Theory to Explain Why People Are Superficial

[MMLauritsen]

But if a 10 hangs out with a 7, doesn't that make the 10 look like 11? Because he is seen in the context of an lower, therefor he seems like a higher number.?

[CelticVictory]

This is why I hate "numbering" people, it is never reliable. Look at this example, the girl that is a 5 looks just as good as the girl standing next to her, while the girl at the end who is an 8 is not. Notice that none of these comparisons actually tell you anything about the person.

[currentliabilities]

pooling and separating at its best 

[miraclechipmunk]

Wait so he said the 10 doesnt play games.... he just choses what he wants; so thats basically his "game". But for a 9, people wont gravitate or like him as much as 10; but since he is still a 9, instead of "not playing the game like a 10'; he can play the game and be the master of it because he is a 9 and 10's dont play. know what im sayin ?

[dmateer]

@miraclechipmunk Not exactly. The 10s are still out there they just don't have to be superficial in how they present themselves. However, it is still good to be a 9, all things considered.

[truthsearching1]

So does this mean that people who don't really participate in games are more likely to be a 10 in terms of their overall Life evalutation (by including attractiveness, intelligence, character etc all into one) than someone who plays alot of games?

[dmateer]

@truthsearching1 -- I would tend to agree. 

[spikeyeyerish]

This was more of an exercise in psycology than game theroy.

The idea behind game theroy is to anticipate and force your oponent into a decision in your favor.

if you are a 5 sick all your ugly 2s and 3s on the 10. scare away 6,7,8,9,10s so you are the best option available

[currentliabilities]

@spikeyeyerish the beauty of economics is that much depends on observations of the human psyche.

[CelticVictory]

@spikeyeyerish ya, that really didn't covering game theory that much. It was game theory in that it searched out the most ideal form while ignoring the fact the life doesn't work that way, unlike psychology. However, in real life, the 8's and the 5 would have cut out the 10 forming their own network leaving the 10 alone and unable to really do anything which tears his theory of the 10 calling all the shots to shreds.

[TheSuperImmortalKing]

This doesn't really explain game thoery that well. What are the pay-offs? What are the strategies?

[suuperstylin]

so then what happens when you find out the 8s and 10s are beautiful but are pricks? does the 5 still seem attractive or does the 5s attractiveness fall by the same margin it grew by when you thought 8s were hot?

[nadiashireensiddiqi]

the cheerleader effect in 'how I met your mother'

why isn't the video clearer?

[superashish1990]

what i think 8s wil go out with 8s as there chances of getting a date with n 8 are more....... scince 8s go out wid 8s 5 and 10 r left alone so they hav no choice but to date each other

[MrBipBipp]

We could take a different approach. If the 5 hangs out with the 8's, it would make the 8's look better by contrast and the 5 would consequently look worse.

So since there are at least two valid ways of looking at this "problem", no options are 100% sure.

[fabbio8888]

Isn't game theory already based on that? If so, how can the theory explain one of its postulates?

[rahetlan]

so prof 1st excellent interaction!

5 wants to date the 10,

but so does the 7 and the 8

has the 10's interest.

5 to undervalue the 8 should hang out with the 8

thereby getting more time to tempt the 10?

[bmed19]

intersting example. would like to see game theory applied to something other than dating

[hemnyy]

How about the choices made by the three 8s? If the the three 8s decide to hang out with the 5, they have better relative looks and they get all the shots. If the 10, who's got the power to choose, chooses to hang out with the 8s, he is the one who's getting all the shots. Therefore it would be more strategic for the 8s to choose the 5 over the 10 in the first place?

[BloodGutsGore]

that girl in the corner of the screen around 0:26 is a definite 10!

[km9OOO]

Maybe so, but she has the classic classroom "Please don't pick me" look on her face.

[MrSlaveMentality]

@BloodGutsGore hurgh? Scooby?

[jonathan102]

hahahaha LOL at 6:00

[ZhongProductions]

i have a question..

so if a 10 hangs out with the 8, would it make the 10 look bad or the 8 look good? would it balance out?

[dmateer]

Great question. You are correct. The 8 looks better and the 10 looks somewhat worse. This process is most obvious when you see mismatched celebrity couples -- I always think of Julia Roberts and Lyle Lovett when they were together.

[Volsabor35]

i wish my professors are that interactive

[GoldAK47]

Yo Game theory is sick

[ikonhart]

unfortuantely, superficiality is a natural bent...most psychological experiments carried out confirm that people are naturally attracted by handsome people because it provides them with immediate aesthetics rewards...They are also more prone to associate them with positive values and qualities...

[fbruno01810]

@ikonhart I disagree. The most attractive girl is the blond blue eyes big breast straight legs correct? Blond is also due by an increase of potassium in the body. Big breast is indication of capability of breast feeding the babies. Straight legs is indication of high Calcium in the body. The most attractive man is the one muscular and with a large member. Again safeness that comes from the strength, and for the other quality, ability to procreate ! See Scientific American.

[medivh421]

confidence/tact owns all in this game.

[dmateer]

Game theory is a branch of economics that analyzes choices in a strategic setting to determine how decisions are made.

[ne1l007]

Hi i was just wondering what exactly is "game theory" can someone give me a good defination. by the way great video

[jasonguyperson]

i should have utilized the nash equilibrium concept in finding my wife...

[czarj]

Hey-o!

[dmateer]

Almost. The idea is that some traits are unobservable -- like personality, being funny, or an attentive listener -- these traits make some people more attractive overall but you could not tell this just by looking at them so when someone is able to hang with others who are clearly more attractive it signals that they have positive unobservable traits.

[CaptainFF]

ok, so the trick is to be yourself & hang out with sexy people? :P

[kaitenuser]

That is why I love teaching with a passion!

[SgtSARS]

Worth Watching

[Slimdawgc]

He looks like a pretty good prof. Where does he teach at?

[targetgreen]

That's in the Forum building at Penn State.