prisoner dilemma (english) - meaning, definition, translation, pronunciation

Part of Speech

Noun

Phonetic Transcription

/ˈprɪzənər dɪˈlɛmɑː/

Meaning and Use

The "prisoner's dilemma" is a concept in game theory that demonstrates why two individuals might not cooperate, even if it appears that it is in their best interest to do so. This dilemma illustrates a situation where two players can either choose to cooperate with one another or to betray each other. Cooperation leads to a better collective outcome, but the temptation to betray can lead to suboptimal outcomes for both players.

The term is frequently used in discussions about economics, political science, and psychology, especially in contexts that involve strategic decision-making. It is common in both oral and written form, particularly in academic and professional environments.

Example Sentences

1. In a classroom experiment, we played the prisoner dilemma to understand the concept of cooperation in game theory.

2. En un experimento en el aula, jugamos el dilema del prisionero para entender el concepto de cooperación en la teoría de juegos.

3. The prisoner dilemma illustrates the conflict between individual rationality and collective benefit.

4. El dilema del prisionero ilustra el conflicto entre la racionalidad individual y el beneficio colectivo.

5. Researchers found that in repeated plays of the prisoner dilemma, participants were more likely to cooperate over time.

6. Los investigadores encontraron que en las partidas repetidas del dilema del prisionero, los participantes eran más propensos a cooperar con el tiempo.

Idiomatic Expressions

While "prisoner's dilemma" itself is a specific term rather than a component of many idiomatic expressions, it has been used in discussions about collaboration, competition, and strategic choices in various contexts. Below are examples of sentences where the concept plays a crucial role:

1. In negotiations, we often face a situation akin to the prisoner’s dilemma, where trusting the other party might yield the best results.

2. En las negociaciones, a menudo nos enfrentamos a una situación similar al dilema del prisionero, donde confiar en la otra parte podría rendir los mejores resultados.

3. The findings showed that when individuals believe they are in a prisoner’s dilemma, they are less likely to cooperate.

4. Los hallazgos mostraron que cuando los individuos creen que están en un dilema del prisionero, son menos propensos a cooperar.

5. The environmental agreement resembles a prisoner’s dilemma, where countries must choose between immediate benefits and long-term sustainability.

6. El acuerdo ambiental se asemeja a un dilema del prisionero, donde los países deben elegir entre beneficios inmediatos y sostenibilidad a largo plazo.

Etymology

The term "prisoner's dilemma" was first introduced in 1950 by mathematicians Merrill Flood and Melvin Dresher in the context of game theory. The name itself reflects the scenario of two prisoners being interrogated separately about a crime, where they must choose to either cooperate with each other or betray one another.

Synonyms and Antonyms

Synonyms: - Game theory scenario - Strategic decision-making problem

Antonyms: - Cooperative game - Mutual benefit situation

This comprehensive breakdown of the "prisoner's dilemma" covers its definition, usage, examples, idiomatic expressions related to it, etymology, and synonyms/antonyms, providing a thorough understanding of the term.