Marriage? A “Prisoners Dilemma” or “Romantic Get Away”
There is a concept in the criminal investigation world known as “The Prisoner's Dilemma.” This “Dilemma” highlights the internal struggle two interrogated, and guilty, suspects find themselves in when facing the possibility of conviction. You may be wondering, “How in the world does this have anything to do with my marriage?”
The answer to this question lies in an important principal we can all learn about human nature. If your marriage resembles a priceless heirloom misplaced in a dark closet, and you need some practical ideas on how to restore it, you will appreciate the following simple advice.
Maybe your marriage is good, even a little above the curve, however somewhere in the back of your mind you realize it could use a little restoration; then follow along as we share a few romance kindling ideas. Before we dig in though, let's take a closer look at the Prisoner's Dilemma and see what hidden treasures lie just beneath its surface.
“Two suspects are arrested by the police. The police have insufficient evidence for a conviction, and having separated the prisoners, visit each of them to offer the same deal. If one testifies for the prosecution against the other (defects) and the other remains silent (cooperates), the defector goes free and the silent accomplice receives the full 10-year sentence.”
“If both remain silent, both prisoners are sentenced to only six months in jail for minor charges. If each betrays the other, each receives a five-year sentence. Each prisoner must choose to betray the other or to remain silent. Each one is assured that the other would not know about the betrayal before the end of the investigation. How should the prisoners act?”
Over the years, history has shown that more often then not each person will act according to his or her own self-interest rather than the greater interest of both -- remarkable, considering their irrational decision ultimately increases both individual sentences. Given the heated scenario, the behavior of the two suspects may not seem too surprising, but is it possible the Prisoner's Dilemma has somehow crept into your marriage?
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