GT Game Theorylesson page

High school activity

Prisoner's Dilemma, without starting with prison.

Students understand the idea faster when the situation feels familiar: a group chat, a shared study guide, or a partner project where one shortcut can damage trust.

Try the trust module

Teacher setup

Explain that a Prisoner's Dilemma is a situation where each person may be tempted by an individual shortcut, even though everyone is better off if both people cooperate.

In this course, students practice the same idea through trust, rumors, and shared resources instead of abstract math.

15-minute class flow

  1. Name the players and the choices each person has.
  2. Ask what payoff feels tempting right now.
  3. Ask what payoff matters later: trust, accuracy, reputation, or repair.
  4. Choose one next move that improves information and lowers drama.