A spry recap of how strike TVThe Traitorsworks , for the uninitiated . A group of contestants enter a manse , where they are assign either the role of double-dealer or close . There are only three traitors to begin with ( they may recruit more at a late time , if hoi polloi among them are caught ) with the rest made up of faithfuls , who must attempt to take in them . If the faithful survive being murdered by the traitors , and eradicate all the treasonist , they take the money . If there are any traitors entrust at the conclusion of the game , however , they slip all the money .
If you want to do well at it , there are many different paths you may go down . You could be tacky and influential , bending others to your opinion , or simply rest quiet the whole plot and hope that nobody notice you . You could be impudent and catch the traitor , or so stupid that the traitors do n’t bother wasting a treasured execution on you .
But a little math , game theory , and logic does n’t hurt either . In fact , it could have helped afew contestantswin in their serial in crucial bit . For instance , it might be undecomposed for the traitor to jazz that faithful objector ( in the UK version at least ) are only a lilliputian bit substantially at capture them than random chance .
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Faithful contestants in another series ( do n’t worry , there are many versions around the world and we will try not to let out which ) ended up faring importantly worse . Due to a series of increasingly baffling decision , at the game ’s end , there were still three traitors in the mansion .
In the final episode , the show revealed a new mechanic created for such a scenario , which they termed the " treasonist ’s dilemma " . After winning the biz , the treasonist were asked to indite " share " or " steal " on their blackboard , before revealing their choice . If all three chose share , they would all share the money . If one or two select to steal , they would take ( and , if it ’s two of them , separate ) the money , go out anyone who write " share " with nothing . If all three vote to steal , however , then nobody would get the money at all .
This is based pretty close on thePrisoner ’s Dilemma , a thought experiment in game theory affect two prisoners facing slammer time , who are offer the chance to go freeifthey riffle on their fellow captive . But there a few other potential outcomes .
If they both interchange , they will each go to jail for two old age . If one flips on the other , they will go free while the other catch three years . If they both remain understood , they will receive one year in slammer each . If you are in that spot , should you choose to grass your fellow captive , or continue silent ?
The chief affair that would have help the double-crosser by knowing this dilemma beforehand , is to live precisely how dire their situation was . It is more often than not used as an example of how rational self - interest of mortal can lead to bad outcomes for the grouping .
Rationally , itmakes senseto fail your fellow prisoner . If you flip you will either go devoid , or have a two yr prison term rather of three . Unfortunately , it also make believe mother wit for the other captive to betray you , and so the optimum alternative for both of you – one year for both staying silent – is take off the table .
The quandary has been used to explain things such as ever - increase advertising spends , as people compete over other person for higher rewards , rather than ( for idealized example ) concur on an publicizing spend , saving money for all involved .
InThe Traitorsfinale , the choice was roughly the same as the prisoner ’s dilemma . A large amount of money for stealing , a smaller amount for cooperating , or a slightly openhanded amount for two steal together . What was different , of path , was the number of players . alternatively of rely on just one somebody to share the prize with you , you would want to be certain that two other masses would also share the trophy , otherwise , you will depart with nothing . This is peculiarly hard to do after watching them betray the great unwashed dark after night for the past two weeks .
Though it may be allure to judge anyone for not partake in the prize , if you have any intuition about any of the other two – or guess they might have the same of you – then the rational thing is to choose to slip . decide to share would be ( almost ) guaranteeing you leave home with the same bank Libra you entered with .
