Tit for Two Tats
Cooperate, then mimic, with forgiveness
Tit for Two Tats is a variation of the Tit for Tat strategy, where a player cooperates on the first move, and then mimics their opponent's previous move, but with a forgiveness mechanism, where cooperation is restored after two consecutive defections.
- Cooperate on the first move
- Mimic your opponent's previous move, with forgiveness
- Be nice, but provocable and forgiving
- Cooperate on the first moveStart by cooperating with your opponent, to establish a baseline for future interactions.Pro tipMake sure your opponent understands that you are cooperating, to avoid misperceptions.WarningBe aware that your opponent may not cooperate, and be prepared to respond accordingly.
- Mimic your opponent's previous move, with forgivenessAfter the first move, mimic your opponent's previous move, but with a forgiveness mechanism, where cooperation is restored after two consecutive defections.Pro tipPay attention to your opponent's moves, to avoid misperceptions and adjust your strategy accordingly.WarningBe aware that your opponent may try to exploit your mimicking strategy, and be prepared to respond accordingly.
Cotton-top tamarin monkeys
In experiments, cotton-top tamarin monkeys learned to cooperate in order to avoid retaliation, and remained stable as long as there were no more than two consecutive defections by one player.
OutcomeThe monkeys were able to maintain cooperation, illustrating the potential benefits of the Tit for Two Tats strategy.
Mistakes or misperceptions
Tit for Two Tats can be flawed in real-world applications due to the possibility of mistakes or misperceptions, which can lead to a cycle of reprisals and undermine cooperation.
Tit for Two Tats was observed in experiments with cotton-top tamarin monkeys, where they learned to cooperate in order to avoid retaliation, and remained stable as long as there were no more than two consecutive defections by one player.
Source · BOOK
The Art of Strategy: A Game Theorist's Guide to Success in Business and Life