Mode of access: World Wide Web.

System requirements: Adobe Acrobat Reader.

Part of: Synthesis digital library of engineering and computer science.

Includes bibliographical references (pages 71-76) and index.

1. Social dilemmas -- 2. Prisoner's dilemma and other social dilemma games -- 2.1. Game theory -- 2.2. The prisoner's dilemma game -- 2.3. The public goods game -- 2.4. The snowdrift game

3. Spatial and network games -- 3.1. Spatial games -- 3.2. Network games -- 3.3. Problems with spatial and network games -- 3.4. Summary

4. The case against weak selection -- 4.1. Summary

5. The Moran process and replicator dynamics -- 5.1. Depicting strategy evolution -- 5.2. The frequency-dependent Moran process -- 5.3. Replicator equations -- 5.4. Comparing evolutionary mechanisms -- 5.5. Summary

6. The problems with computer models -- 6.1. Model realism -- 6.2. Model validation -- 6.3. Asking the right questions -- 6.4. Summary

7. The path forward -- 7.1. The Moran process -- 7.2. Spatial games -- 7.3. Population sizes -- 7.4. Model validation -- 7.5. Summary.

Abstract freely available; full-text restricted to subscribers or individual document purchasers.

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Cooperation is pervasive throughout nature, but its origin remains an open question. For decades, social scientists, business leaders, and economists have struggled with an important question: why is cooperation so ubiquitous among unrelated humans? The answers would have profound effects because anything that promotes cooperation leads to more productive work environments and benefits society at large. Game theory provides an ideal framework for studying social dilemmas, or those situations in which people decide whether to cooperate with others (benefitting the group) or defect by prioritizing their self-interest (benefitting only the individual). The social dilemma is formulated as a mathematical game and then programmed into a computer model. Simulating the game allows researchers to investigate potential theories to explain how cooperation emerges and what promotes its persistence. Over the past 25 years, countless papers on social dilemma games have been published, yet arguably little progress has been made. The problem is the social dilemma game models are unrealistic in the sense they contain artificial constructs that deviate from the way humans act. This book describes the shortcomings in current social dilemma game modeling techniques and provides guidance on designing more effective models. A basic introduction to game theory is provided with an emphasis on the prisoner's dilemma, the most widely studied social dilemma game. Individual chapters are provided detailing the shortcomings of weak selection, spatial games, and the Moran process. Computer model validation is also discussed at length. The recommendations found in this book should help design more realistic social dilemma game models likely to produce a better understanding of human cooperation.

Also available in print.

Title from PDF title page (viewed on September 27, 2019).