In my game theory class I teach that rational people will defect in the prisoner’s dilemma game, although I stress that you should try to change the game so it is no longer a prisoner’s dilemma.
Can this situation be modeled as a prisoner’s dilemma in a useful way? There seem to be some important differences.
For example, if both ‘prisoners’ have the same strain of herpes, then the utility for mutual defection is positive for both participants. That is, they get the sex they were looking for, with no further herpes.
Are you advocating for prisoner defection?
In my game theory class I teach that rational people will defect in the prisoner’s dilemma game, although I stress that you should try to change the game so it is no longer a prisoner’s dilemma.
I hope you also talk about Parfit’s hitchhiker, credible precommitment and morals (e.g. honor, honesty) as one of its aspects.
I spend a lot of time on credible threats and promises, but I don’t do Parft’s hitchhicker as it doesn’t seem realistic.
Can this situation be modeled as a prisoner’s dilemma in a useful way? There seem to be some important differences.
For example, if both ‘prisoners’ have the same strain of herpes, then the utility for mutual defection is positive for both participants. That is, they get the sex they were looking for, with no further herpes.
Not prisoner’s dilemma, but successful coordination to which a decrease in the spread of HIV in the gay community is attributed: serosorting.