Applied to Relationships
http://thoughtstreak.files.wordpress.com/2007/06/b51282861.png
Game theory can also be applied to romantic relationships (in this case, other than marriage). People may not realize it, but probability is a large factor in relationships. When things start to crumble, there is the probability that you could leave the person and get over them. There is also the probability that they could leave you. A third option would be that things could improve between the two people and they will drop it and move on. Game theory comes into the situation because both parties are trying to get the maximum benefit. They try to figure out what the other person will do so they can do what ever it takes to "beat them" at the game. In these situations, relationships go from being happy to being strategic.
One example of game theory in a romantic relationship is when one person is dissatisfied with the relationship. According to the game tree above, let's say that Player A is unhappy. She has two choices. She can either forget it and move on or confront Player B about the issue. Forgetting about it would maintain the Status Quo. Confronting the boy would upset him. If the girl decides to confront the situation, the boy then has two choices of his own. He can either apologize and accept the blame or deny the allegations against him and start a fight. This path may even lead to a break up. Now, this is where game theory comes into it. If the girl (who was originally dissatisfied) knows that the boy is the proud type, that he is more likely to break up with her than he likely to back down and apologize, she will probably choose to cooperate and keep the status quo. But if she knows that he is more likely to take responsibility and apologize she will more likely confront him to achieve the apology and more powerful position in the relationship. If Player A knows that Player B will cooperate no matter what, she can take advantage so that the situation is always in her favor. (*Please note: Player A doesn't always have to be the girl and Player B isn't always the boy, they are very obviously interchangeable.)
" In romantic relationships, it is essential for both parties to trust each other and expose their vulnerability if they are going to get to romantic bliss. But this is a highly risky strategy. If you show your vulnerability and your significant other doesn’t, then you risk getting very hurt. Your best bet is to hold back on exposing your vulnerability, keep up some sort of guard and continue to be mean. In this way, nothing too awful can happen to you. It looks like what game theorists call a “dominant strategy”, the best outcome for you no matter what the other person does. You won’t get to romantic bliss, but you won’t get devastated either. Not falling in love, therefore, looks pretty wise, which somehow seems counter-intuitive (like all the best Prisoner’s Dilemmas). " - http://gliddofglood.typepad.com/the_glidd_of_glood_blog/2010/04/game-theory-the-prisoners-dilemma-and-romantic-relationships.html
Here is another example of game theory. Theoretically, let's say there is an extremely attractive girl, one who has to "beat off suitors with a stick". In terms of game theory, she is likely to be more mean than a regular girl. "Mean" in this sense is referring to the fact that she will be extra cautious of who she picks because she has so many choices. There is no need to be cautious about hurting anyone's feelings by rejecting them because (in theory) there will always be other men waiting to be picked. "This is, of course, the stuff of myth and fairy tale, wherein the Prince or suitor has to slay dragons, cut through thorns and perform countless other disagreeable tasks in order to win the Princess, whose only real obligation is to be beautiful." The task of finding someone is the easy part; it's finding the right one that is more difficult. Therefore, as long as the girl plays hard to get and comes off as noncommital, she is in no danger of every being hurt. This is the ultimate idea behind game theory when it comes to relationships: Obtain the best circumstances possible without getting hurt in the process. This is what we strive for in a perfect world. In the real world though, things aren't always so perfect. Eventually, the princess's "mean" strategy will cease to be beneficial because she will want what all other girls want: romantic bliss. The only problem is, she can't play the "mean" card AND have romantic bliss at the same time; it just doesn't work like that. However, switching to the "nice" strategy (stop playing hard to get and actually treat the man as your equal) may be harder for some than it is for others. Remember, the mean strategy was the best shield from being hurt. Once the girl lets down the front she has put up, she is exposed to getting hurt again. If she can't adopt the nice strategy though, eventually the boy can get fed up with how he is being treated. He may not want to put up with her games anymore because he doesn't want to look spineless and wants to avoid getting hurt himself. So, this can lead to him adopting a mean strategy of his own. With both the girl and boy playing the "mean" strategy in this game, the relationship is likely to end extremely soon.
"Being afraid of losing romantic games means that you have little possibility of really winning them in any meaningful way." - http://gliddofglood.typepad.com/the_glidd_of_glood_blog/2010/04/game-theory-the-prisoners-dilemma-and-romantic-relationships.html
One example of game theory in a romantic relationship is when one person is dissatisfied with the relationship. According to the game tree above, let's say that Player A is unhappy. She has two choices. She can either forget it and move on or confront Player B about the issue. Forgetting about it would maintain the Status Quo. Confronting the boy would upset him. If the girl decides to confront the situation, the boy then has two choices of his own. He can either apologize and accept the blame or deny the allegations against him and start a fight. This path may even lead to a break up. Now, this is where game theory comes into it. If the girl (who was originally dissatisfied) knows that the boy is the proud type, that he is more likely to break up with her than he likely to back down and apologize, she will probably choose to cooperate and keep the status quo. But if she knows that he is more likely to take responsibility and apologize she will more likely confront him to achieve the apology and more powerful position in the relationship. If Player A knows that Player B will cooperate no matter what, she can take advantage so that the situation is always in her favor. (*Please note: Player A doesn't always have to be the girl and Player B isn't always the boy, they are very obviously interchangeable.)
" In romantic relationships, it is essential for both parties to trust each other and expose their vulnerability if they are going to get to romantic bliss. But this is a highly risky strategy. If you show your vulnerability and your significant other doesn’t, then you risk getting very hurt. Your best bet is to hold back on exposing your vulnerability, keep up some sort of guard and continue to be mean. In this way, nothing too awful can happen to you. It looks like what game theorists call a “dominant strategy”, the best outcome for you no matter what the other person does. You won’t get to romantic bliss, but you won’t get devastated either. Not falling in love, therefore, looks pretty wise, which somehow seems counter-intuitive (like all the best Prisoner’s Dilemmas). " - http://gliddofglood.typepad.com/the_glidd_of_glood_blog/2010/04/game-theory-the-prisoners-dilemma-and-romantic-relationships.html
Here is another example of game theory. Theoretically, let's say there is an extremely attractive girl, one who has to "beat off suitors with a stick". In terms of game theory, she is likely to be more mean than a regular girl. "Mean" in this sense is referring to the fact that she will be extra cautious of who she picks because she has so many choices. There is no need to be cautious about hurting anyone's feelings by rejecting them because (in theory) there will always be other men waiting to be picked. "This is, of course, the stuff of myth and fairy tale, wherein the Prince or suitor has to slay dragons, cut through thorns and perform countless other disagreeable tasks in order to win the Princess, whose only real obligation is to be beautiful." The task of finding someone is the easy part; it's finding the right one that is more difficult. Therefore, as long as the girl plays hard to get and comes off as noncommital, she is in no danger of every being hurt. This is the ultimate idea behind game theory when it comes to relationships: Obtain the best circumstances possible without getting hurt in the process. This is what we strive for in a perfect world. In the real world though, things aren't always so perfect. Eventually, the princess's "mean" strategy will cease to be beneficial because she will want what all other girls want: romantic bliss. The only problem is, she can't play the "mean" card AND have romantic bliss at the same time; it just doesn't work like that. However, switching to the "nice" strategy (stop playing hard to get and actually treat the man as your equal) may be harder for some than it is for others. Remember, the mean strategy was the best shield from being hurt. Once the girl lets down the front she has put up, she is exposed to getting hurt again. If she can't adopt the nice strategy though, eventually the boy can get fed up with how he is being treated. He may not want to put up with her games anymore because he doesn't want to look spineless and wants to avoid getting hurt himself. So, this can lead to him adopting a mean strategy of his own. With both the girl and boy playing the "mean" strategy in this game, the relationship is likely to end extremely soon.
"Being afraid of losing romantic games means that you have little possibility of really winning them in any meaningful way." - http://gliddofglood.typepad.com/the_glidd_of_glood_blog/2010/04/game-theory-the-prisoners-dilemma-and-romantic-relationships.html
