So, I was just watching some videos on the prisoner's dilemma and Nash equilibrium. I realized that in a metaphorical analogy, the prisoner's dilemma reflects pretty accurately on the problems that arise in a bad relationship:
Imagine being in a troubled romantic relationship with someone you don't really feel you can trust, as much as you might want to. The prisoner's dilemma is remarkably reflective of it. Either party could put more effort into the relationship in order to be kind and giving, but if partner A tries, partner B gets benefit without having to do anything, and would still have to make some sacrifices in order to return the generosity, so they may choose not to do so and just enjoy A's generosity. In that case, however, A will stop trying because they are being taken advantage of and the Nash equilibrium is that both end up in a resentful relationship, tolerating it because they don't want to bother opening themselves up only to be taken advantage of again.
If the two could trust each other to effectively collude, and continue to make sacrifices even when in the short-term, it does in fact make them a little less happy to do so, they can enjoy a relationship that generally exists in the try/try quadrant of the relationship. Of course, relationships are more complicated and it's possible to try to do something nice and have it completely backfire because of different values, but on a very basic level, the analogy is quite apt.
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