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Game theory is the study of how people interact in social situations. One of the most famous scenarios in this field is the "prisoner's dilemma." In the prisoner's dilemma, two members of the same criminal network are on trial, both are in solitary confinement, and both are offered release if they snitch on the other.
If both criminals betray each other, both do moderate prison time; if only one betrays, the traitor walks free and the other criminal does lengthy time; but if both remain silent, they both serve minimum prison sentences. The idea is that both criminals are best served by remaining silent—it's too risky to snitch, because both are likely to do so and therefore both serve more time than necessary.
Whatever the implications of this may be for law-abiding citizens, for bad guys it's a pretty good bit of information to have tucked away. And what does this have to do with gamers? Well, let's face it: everyone who plays a game is really the bad guy, at least to everyone else at the table. And isn't it way more satisfying to take everyone else down even if you lose than to keep things in equilibrium just to squeak by with a win?
Of course it is. Unless you're into cooperation. Non-cooperative game theory is only one branch of the discipline, after all; the other is cooperative game theory, and while it might not feed our vindictive side, it's just as fascinating as its devious twin. The interesting thing about the prisoner's dilemma is that it incorporates both cooperative and non-cooperative game theory in one problem.
You don't actually need game theory to win at games, though it can be helpful, especially if you're playing something like bridge or poker. It can also add insight into one of the relative newcomers to parlor games—the cooperative game. A lot of new games actually unite the players together to overcome some common obstacle, thus emphasizing problem solving skills and logic rather than competition and cutthroat tactics.
If you'd rather implement non-cooperative game theory than its less threatening counterpart, that's your business (we certainly would, as often as not). We'd just encourage you to find ways to grow as a family and as critical thinkers while you play these games.....whether you're cooperating or not.
If games aren't your thing, or your kids are just too young, you can check out the toys, puzzles, coloring and sticker pads from Melissa & Doug!
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