Question

Suppose that each of two prisoners has the independent choice of confessing to a crime or not confessing to a crime they were both alleged to commit. If neither confesses, both spend two years in prison; if both confess, both spend three years in prison. If one confesses and the other does not, the confessor gets off with one year but the other gets six years. According to game theory, the MOST likely strategy of the prisoners is that:

Answer 1

The most likely strategy of the prisoners is that: Both confess.

Step-by-step explanation:

When people are accused of an allegedly committed crime, of course, they will tend to look for a lesser punishment. Thus, without knowing it, both will admit their guilt to spend fewer years in jail.

This is a common technique to get a confession, promise benefits or a different punishment than one could have without confession.