In the prisoner's dilemma, each of the two prisoners will be better off if neither confesses than if they both confess.

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Quizplus · Accepted Answer

This is the essence of the prisoner's dilemma - if both prisoners cooperate and do not confess, they will both receive a lighter sentence compared to if they both confess. However, if one prisoner confesses and the other doesn't, the one who confesses will receive a lighter sentence (or go free) while the other will receive a heavy sentence. This creates a situation where each prisoner has an incentive to defect and confess, even though the overall outcome would be worse for both if they both confess.

In the Prisoner's Dilemma, Each of the Two Prisoners Will