The Optional Prisoner's Dilemma (OPD) game models a situation of conflict involving two players in
game theory. It can be seen as an extension of the standard
prisoner's dilemma
The Prisoner's Dilemma is an example of a game analyzed in game theory. It is also a thought experiment that challenges two completely rational agents to a dilemma: cooperate with their partner for mutual reward, or betray their partner ("def ...
game, where players have the option to "reject the deal", that is, to abstain from playing the game.
This type of game can be used as a model for a number of real world situations in which agents are afforded the third option of abstaining from a game interaction such as an election.
Payoff matrix
The structure of the Optional Prisoner's Dilemma can be generalized from the standard prisoner's dilemma game setting. In this way, suppose that the two players are represented by the colors, red and blue, and that each player chooses to "Cooperate", "Defect" or "Abstain".
The
payoff matrix
In game theory, normal form is a description of a ''game''. Unlike extensive form, normal-form representations are not graphical ''per se'', but rather represent the game by way of a matrix. While this approach can be of greater use in identifyin ...
for the game is shown below:
* If both players cooperate, they both receive the reward ''R'' for mutual cooperation.
* If both players defect, they both receive the punishment payoff ''P''.
* If Blue defects while Red cooperates, then Blue receives the temptation payoff ''T'', while Red receives the "sucker's" payoff, ''S''.
* Similarly, if Blue cooperates while Red defects, then Blue receives the sucker's payoff ''S'', while Red receives the temptation payoff ''T''.
* If one or both players abstain, both receive the loner's payoff ''L''.
The following condition must hold for the payoffs:
''T'' > ''R'' > ''L'' > ''P'' > ''S''
References
{{Game theory
Non-cooperative games
Dilemmas