Prisoner's Dilemma Explained - Game Theory

Why would a suspect admit to committing murder when there's a lack of evidence against them? Let's check out the prisoner's dilemma and find out. www.michaelanuzis.com

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[8Julius8]

ahh... Im so exausted because of all the studying, I cant absorb any information....

I just wanna puch him in the face...

[anuzis]

@8Julius8 Good luck on your exam.

[blamedaveLEEDS]

I'm confused. How did you settle on the original punishments for Bob & Jane?....both prisoners ratting & they get 5, both staying quiet & they get 2. I can't imagine a court giving people a bigger sentence for ratting than staying quiet. Surely helping the police would buy you some grace. I can see what the game is about and I like the theory, its just those original figures I'm unsure about. Or am I missing the point, I'm not a mathematician. Yours, ConfusedUK

[anuzis]

Hey Dave - fair question.

Admittedly, the initial assumptions are artificial. The thought is that the courts don't have enough evidence to definitely know Bob & Jane are guilty so they can't give them a full prison sentence unless they admit to the crime.

If both are quiet, the court can only do so much.

If both rat out, the court gets harder evidence and can punish harder.

If only one person rats out, that person gets favor from the court as you suggest, the other person bites the bullet.

[chialikeitgrows]

@pr1nyc1 political science

[pr1nyc1]

We're learning this in Microeconomics. What other classes is this used for?

[37butterflyprincess]

"jane is thinking, if I move us to this column, I get one years less.

jane also gets a knife in the neck when I get out in eight years.

[37butterflyprincess]

"Jane always finds that left column attractive" until she realizes living 5 years in prison known as a snitch (and people WILL find out, trust me) is hell, and decides, "nah, two years not being known as a rat is better" same goes for bob.

the cops always say your friend confessed and you may as do so too, you'll be better off. if our players realize this is a trick, it won't work. you don't make their job easier by giving them evidence. they say you did something, make 'em prove it

[37butterflyprincess]

@prodprod IDK. the way I look at it as a former criminal is like this: I can stay quiet, and get A)2 years or B)8 years. or I can snitch and get C)1 year or D)5 years. C & D are not options. you don't rat, period. C & D mean U go to prison with a possible label of RAT. there are people inside you kill rats, and at the least, life will REALLY suck if they don't. this is why you only commit crimes w/ trusted people u know won't rat. u stick to ur story, never confess and never turn in a friend

[37butterflyprincess]

@GiantNeuron even when the cops come to you and say your friend confessed, you don't buy it. that is the oldest trick in the book. sorry, I'm not talking. i find out they snitched, well, they're going to fall too, and I will do my best to get to them. I will make sure people I know in other prisons know he's a rat. (this is assuming I'm a criminal who has likely done time before) if you don't confess you get 2 years? no problem, I'll see y'all in a bit over a year then (w/ good time) peace!

[37butterflyprincess]

@GiantNeuron this situation presumes we are not dealing with experienced criminals. firstly, experienced criminals know only to commit crimes with people they know won't talk. second an experienced criminal knows "the code": you stick to your story, you NEVER confess, and you never turn in a friend. more then likely, if two people did something that is punishable, they've co-operated b4 the investigation.

[MuandLe]

love you man, look forward to more vids!!!!

[GiantNeuron]

@blamedaveLEEDS

The point is that they don't know what the other person is selecting! Since the two suspects are NOT communicating (and are in separate rooms) one's choice cannot influence the other's choice. Regardless of what the other person does, you are at an advantage if you rat out... And this is how you can make your suspects give away eachother.