Social Decision Making Module Map

Purpose  To demonstrate the decision-making strategies of persons in zero-sum and non-zero-sum environments.

Summary  The zero-sum situation is described and demonstrated with a version of the prisoner's dilemma game. The student plays against the computer, quickly discovering that zero-sum environments lead to competition and mistrust. Then the non-zero-sum situation is described and illustrated with the same game but a different payoff matrix (in which some combinations of choices lead to gains or losses for both players). Next the non-zero-sum situation is clarified through the classic Deutsch and Krauss trucking game. The student controls a delivery truck that competes with a truck controlled by the computer for access to a one-lane shortcut. The game includes conditions in which players can control gates that can block the other player or can choose to wait if the shortcut is in use rather than impede the other truck. If students monitor their own decision-making strategies under the various conditions, they should be able to draw inferences about how to set up social decision-making situations so as to maximize the possibilities for cooperation and trust.
Introduction
Zero-sum game
Non-zero-sum game
The trucking game
Conclusions
 		Summary
References


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