Games Theory Models: Social Behaviour

Abstract

In this chapter we are going to tackle a group of models developed from games theory. Games theory is a branch of mathematics devoted to the analysis of decisions made by two or more players where the outcomes depend upon what an opponent chooses to do. Economists and mathematicians have used the theory of games to analyse complex decisions in a variety of situations — everywhere from the board room to the nuclear arms theatre! However, many of the decisions which animals make are also open to a games theory analysis. Animals do not make optimality decisions in a void, but in a complex social environment. In certain circumstances an animal’s payoff may depend upon the responses of other animals. This chapter covers a number of areas where this is true.