> In every situation, the most natural strategy is to maximize personal gains.
The iterated prisoner's dilemma begs to differ.
There are many many situations where cooperation is both natural and optimal.
The iterated prisoner's dilemma begs to differ.
There are many many situations where cooperation is both natural and optimal.
It does point to the advantages of not defecting on players who cooperate.
The best you can do if you have no idea what strategies are in place is to employ Tit For Tat (I think?) as it's optimal under the largest number of conditions but not all the time.
i.e., there is something in it for them. It doesn't have to be a tangible thing, it could be a simple as self-satisfaction.