The most REVEALING experiment about human psychology:
The Prisoner’s Dilemma.
It explains why empires collapse, your friend lied, and how “playing it safe” is the most dangerous option.
5-step protocol to avoid falling for it: 🧵
WATCH & READ THIS ↓
The Prisoner’s Dilemma.
It explains why empires collapse, your friend lied, and how “playing it safe” is the most dangerous option.
5-step protocol to avoid falling for it: 🧵
WATCH & READ THIS ↓
1950, RAND Corporation.
Two game theorists, Merrill Flood and Melvin Dresher, were studying Cold War strategy.
They made a disturbing discovery:
Even when cooperation helps everyone…human nature pushes us to sabotage each other.
Two game theorists, Merrill Flood and Melvin Dresher, were studying Cold War strategy.
They made a disturbing discovery:
Even when cooperation helps everyone…human nature pushes us to sabotage each other.
They built a thought experiment to prove it:
Two prisoners.
Isolated.
Each offered the same deal:
* Betray your partner (defect) and go free while they serve 10 years
* Stay silent (cooperate) and both serve 1 year
If both defect? 5 years each.
Two prisoners.
Isolated.
Each offered the same deal:
* Betray your partner (defect) and go free while they serve 10 years
* Stay silent (cooperate) and both serve 1 year
If both defect? 5 years each.
The logic trap:
No matter what the other does…defecting always seems safer for you.
But when both think this way…you both lose more than if you trusted each other.
It’s not just about prisoners.
No matter what the other does…defecting always seems safer for you.
But when both think this way…you both lose more than if you trusted each other.
It’s not just about prisoners.
The Prisoner’s Dilemma isn’t a puzzle.
It’s a mirror.
It reflects what happens when fear of betrayal outweighs the rewards of trust.
Then came the breakthrough:
Psychologist Robert Axelrod ran a global competition of repeated Prisoner’s Dilemma games.
It’s a mirror.
It reflects what happens when fear of betrayal outweighs the rewards of trust.
Then came the breakthrough:
Psychologist Robert Axelrod ran a global competition of repeated Prisoner’s Dilemma games.
1950, RAND Corporation.
Two game theorists, Merrill Flood and Melvin Dresher, were studying Cold War strategy.
They made a disturbing discovery:
Even when cooperation helps everyone…
human nature pushes us to sabotage each other.
They built a thought experiment to prove it:
Two prisoners.
Isolated.
Each offered the same deal:
Two game theorists, Merrill Flood and Melvin Dresher, were studying Cold War strategy.
They made a disturbing discovery:
Even when cooperation helps everyone…
human nature pushes us to sabotage each other.
They built a thought experiment to prove it:
Two prisoners.
Isolated.
Each offered the same deal:
Hundreds of strategies battled for dominance.
The winner? A shockingly simple rule called Tit for Tat.
It worked like this:
1. Cooperate first
2. Do exactly what your opponent did last time
Kindness is met with kindness.
Betrayal is met with instant retaliation.
The winner? A shockingly simple rule called Tit for Tat.
It worked like this:
1. Cooperate first
2. Do exactly what your opponent did last time
Kindness is met with kindness.
Betrayal is met with instant retaliation.
Why it works:
* Punishes betrayal fast
* Rewards trust immediately
* Builds a reputation for fairness
It’s not about being nice. It’s about being predictable in a way that makes trust profitable.
Here’s the 5-step Prisoner’s Dilemma protocol for REAL LIFE:
* Punishes betrayal fast
* Rewards trust immediately
* Builds a reputation for fairness
It’s not about being nice. It’s about being predictable in a way that makes trust profitable.
Here’s the 5-step Prisoner’s Dilemma protocol for REAL LIFE:
Step 1: Identify the game
Look for situations where mutual trust could benefit everyone—but fear pushes people to defect.
If you can spot the dilemma, you can change the outcome.
Look for situations where mutual trust could benefit everyone—but fear pushes people to defect.
If you can spot the dilemma, you can change the outcome.
Step 2: Signal trust early
In one-off games, protect yourself.
But in ongoing relationships, start with cooperation.
You invite reciprocity and set the tone.
In one-off games, protect yourself.
But in ongoing relationships, start with cooperation.
You invite reciprocity and set the tone.
Step 3: Enforce boundaries fast
If the other side defects, respond immediately. No slow fades. No hoping they’ll change.
Betrayal must have a cost.
If the other side defects, respond immediately. No slow fades. No hoping they’ll change.
Betrayal must have a cost.
Step 4: Reward loyalty publicly
People copy what’s rewarded.
When someone cooperates, acknowledge it, praise it, or reciprocate bigger.
Make trust contagious.
People copy what’s rewarded.
When someone cooperates, acknowledge it, praise it, or reciprocate bigger.
Make trust contagious.
Step 5: Think in decades, not days
Short-term betrayal is tempting. Long-term cooperation builds empires, legacies, and reputations that protect you when you need it most.
The truth: Life is full of Prisoner’s Dilemmas.
Most people play to avoid losing.
Short-term betrayal is tempting. Long-term cooperation builds empires, legacies, and reputations that protect you when you need it most.
The truth: Life is full of Prisoner’s Dilemmas.
Most people play to avoid losing.
If you liked this thread, join me on my mission:
School and society never taught you how to master the mind.
My mission is to uncover the hidden wisdom in psychology and game theory for those who seek self-mastery.
Follow me @mentalities_ to become Der Übermensch.
School and society never taught you how to master the mind.
My mission is to uncover the hidden wisdom in psychology and game theory for those who seek self-mastery.
Follow me @mentalities_ to become Der Übermensch.
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