Lecture on Game Theory and Survivor Example

Introduction to Game Theory

• Game theory applications in life and competitions
• Focus on strategic decision-making

The Story of Yul Kwon on Survivor (2006)

• CBS reality show with $1 million prize
• Contestants compete on an island, voted out one by one
• Final winner decided by a jury of voted-out contestants

Preparation for Survivor

• Yul Kwon studied game theory
• Influenced by Robert Axelrod, political scientist, University of Michigan

Robert Axelrod and the Evolution of Cooperation

• Study of why humans cooperate
• Set up tournaments for Prisoner's Dilemma
• Programs played 200 repeated games

Winning Strategy: Tit-for-Tat

• Developed by Anatole Rapoport
• Starts with cooperation
• Copies opponent's previous move
• Principles: cooperate, retaliate if defected, return to cooperation if opponent does

Axelrod’s Rules for Success

• Be nice: Cooperate and never be the first to defect
• Be provokable: Defect in response to defection
• Focus on own score, not opponent's
• Be clear, not clever

Application in Survivor

• Critical game moment: 12 players, tribes evenly split
• Immunity challenges crucial

Mutiny and Strategy Shift

• Host offered mutiny option
• Candace and Jonathan switched tribes
• Yul’s tribe outnumbered but won challenges
• Achieved majority after tribe merge

Yul Kwon’s Strategic Use of the Immunity Idol

• Found a one-time use immunity idol
• Avoided playing it at tribal council
• Convinced Jonathan to switch sides
  • Used threat of idol as mutually assured destruction
  • Promised random idol allocation among group members
  • Made Jonathan's dominant strategy to defect

Outcome of the Strategy

• Jonathan defected, strengthening Yul's position
• Yul never used the idol
• Final showdown: Yul versus Ozzy
• Yul’s strategic dominance versus Ozzy’s physical prowess

Conclusion

• Yul Kwon’s strategic use of game theory led to success
• Exemplifies the power of strategic thinking and cooperation