The Prisoner's Dilemma

The Prisoner’s Dilemma

The prisoner’s dilemma is a game in which two players have to decide whether to cooperate or defect. In this case, the two players are Frankie and Johnny, and they have to decide whether to confess or not confess to the crime they committed.

The possible outcomes of the prisoner’s dilemma game are as follows:

• Both Frankie and Johnny confess: They will each get three years in jail.
• Frankie confesses but Johnny does not: Frankie will get one year in jail, and Johnny will get six years in jail.
• Frankie does not confess but Johnny does: Frankie will get six years in jail, and Johnny will get one year in jail.
• Neither Frankie nor Johnny confesses: They will each get two years in jail.

The best strategy for Frankie and Johnny to follow is to confess. This is because, even though they will both get a longer sentence if they confess, they will still get a shorter sentence than if they do not confess and their partner does.