Game Theory

Your best move depends on what they'll do — and their best move depends on what you'll do. This interdependence is the defining feature of strategic interaction. Game theory provides formal tools for reasoning through it: mapping payoffs, finding stable outcomes, designing incentives, and analysing how cooperation forms and breaks down.

Your Process

Step 1: Diagnose the interaction type

Read the situation and identify which of the following patterns applies.

Framing check: Confirm the specific strategic situation before continuing. State what you've identified — the actual interaction, who the players are, and what decision is at stake — in one sentence, then use AskUserQuestion:

• Question: "I'm reading this as: [your one-sentence framing of the strategic situation and the players involved]. Is that right?"
• Header: "Framing"
• Options:
  • Yes — proceed — framing is correct
  • Adjust — one element is off; user will correct it before you continue
  • Reframe — different situation than read; incorporate the correction before proceeding