Tit for Tat

I chose this topic as I find this strategy very interesting seeing as how everyone on the planet at one time or another has engaged in the act(s) during inter/intra-personal, inter/intra-group/social, or global/international confrontation(s).

Tit for tat is all about equivalence in retaliation.  This method is used in Game Theory as well as Prisoner’s dilemma strategies.  When we are using this strategy we initially cooperate, then respond to an opponent's prior action. If our opponent was previously cooperative, the partner is cooperative. If not, the partner is not.

This operation is contingent on four strategies:

1. Unless provoked by the opponent, the partner will cooperate
2. If provoked by the opponent, the partner will then retaliate
3. The partner is quick to forgive
4. The partner has to have a good chance of  continued competition against the opponent.

Depending on the “payoff” the competition can continue long enough to repeat the cycle of punishment and forgiveness and ultimately generate a more stable“long-term payoff”; much higher than the possible loss from being initially cooperative.

http://web.ebscohost.com.proxy.ohiolink.edu:9099/ehost/detail?hid=104&sid=fad946b5-d982-4e7d-8291-ad1dd81ec7f1%40sessionmgr104&vid=6&bdata=JnNpdGU9ZWhvc3QtbGl2ZQ%3d%3d#db=a9h&AN=9501204977