Deadlock, False Cooperation
The Deadlock
The Deadlock is a Deadlock and False Cooperation scenario. The core lesson: Sometimes cooperation is worse than defection for both players. You and a neighbor share a fence. You both benefit slightly from maintaining it, but each of you would personally prefer if it just fell down. DecisionPlay maps the players, payoffs, and equilibrium dynamics that shape how this situation typically resolves.
The situation
You and a neighbor share a fence. You both benefit slightly from maintaining it, but each of you would personally prefer if it just fell down. Neither of you uses it much. You're deciding whether to contribute to repairs.
Background
Deadlock is the opposite of Prisoner's Dilemma: both players prefer to defect, and the (defect, defect) outcome is both individually rational and collectively preferred. Deadlock games are often mistaken for Prisoner's Dilemmas, which leads to people trying to 'solve' cooperation problems that don't actually exist. Recognizing a Deadlock prevents you from wasting energy on collaboration nobody wants.
What this reveals
Not every game needs cooperation
Some situations look like they require collaboration but actually don't, because neither party benefits from the outcome they are 'cooperating' toward.
How to counter it: Before trying to solve a coordination problem, ask whether anyone actually wants the coordinated outcome. If the answer is no, the right move is to name it.
A question to sit with
What's a project, meeting, or commitment in your life that everyone pretends to want but nobody actually does? What would happen if you named it?
Frequently asked questions
- What game theory concept does The Deadlock illustrate?
- The Deadlock illustrates Deadlock, False Cooperation. Sometimes cooperation is worse than defection for both players.
- What is the situation in The Deadlock?
- You and a neighbor share a fence. You both benefit slightly from maintaining it, but each of you would personally prefer if it just fell down. Neither of you uses it much.
- What does The Deadlock reveal about how people decide?
- Not every game needs cooperation. Some situations look like they require collaboration but actually don't, because neither party benefits from the outcome they are 'cooperating' toward.
- How do you avoid the trap in The Deadlock?
- Before trying to solve a coordination problem, ask whether anyone actually wants the coordinated outcome. If the answer is no, the right move is to name it.
- What is the research behind The Deadlock?
- Deadlock is the opposite of Prisoner's Dilemma: both players prefer to defect, and the (defect, defect) outcome is both individually rational and collectively preferred. Deadlock games are often mistaken for Prisoner's Dilemmas, which leads to people trying to 'solve' cooperation problems that don't actually exist. Recognizing a Deadlock prevents you from wasting energy on collaboration nobody wants.
- How long does The Deadlock take to play?
- About 6 min, at intro difficulty, across 4 decision points. It runs in your browser with no account and no sign-in.
Keep exploring
More Classical Game Theory scenarios, or browse all scenarios. New to this? Start with how DecisionPlay works or the game theory glossary.
Topics: deadlock, false-cooperation, organizational-inertia