the prisoner’s dilemma

The prisoner’s dilemma is a scenario in which two individuals face a choice: cooperate or betray. If both cooperate, they receive moderate benefits. If one betrays and the other cooperates, the betrayer gets a bigger benefit while the other gets a worse outcome. If both betray, they both end up with a less favorable result. The dilemma highlights how rational individuals might choose self-interest, leading to a suboptimal outcome for both, even though mutual cooperation would be better overall. It's used to explore decision-making, trust, and strategic behavior in various social and economic contexts.