play game theory

every interaction you have with another person is a game. not in a manipulative sense — in a mathematical one. and most people are playing without understanding the rules.

what game theory actually is

game theory is the study of strategic decision-making between rational actors. it was formalized by John von Neumann and later expanded by John Nash (the "Beautiful Mind" guy). it models situations where your outcome depends not just on your choices, but on other people's choices too.

sound abstract? it's not. you use game theory every time you negotiate a salary, decide whether to trust someone, or choose between cooperating and competing.

the prisoner's dilemma

the most famous game theory model goes like this: two suspects are arrested. if both stay silent, they each get 1 year. if one snitches and the other stays silent, the snitch goes free and the silent one gets 10 years. if both snitch, they each get 5 years.

the rational individual choice is to snitch. but the rational collective choice is to cooperate. this tension between individual and group interest plays out everywhere — business partnerships, friendships, international politics.

why this matters for your life

once you see these patterns, you can't unsee them. you start recognizing when you're in a zero-sum game versus a positive-sum one. you understand why trust is economically rational in repeated interactions. you see why tit-for-tat (cooperate first, then mirror) is one of the most robust strategies ever tested.

start playing

grab a friend and play the prisoner's dilemma for 20 rounds. keep score. play rock-paper-scissors but try to model your opponent's patterns. read "The Art of Strategy" by Dixit and Nalebuff for a readable intro.

the goal isn't to become a game theory expert. it's to start thinking strategically about interactions you currently navigate on autopilot.

if this resonated, share it with someone who needs to hear it.