Brain Game your Children
Learn a simple trick to exact control over them
Some of you may, or may not know (depending on how much of my other posts you've read) that once upon a time I was a graduate student in applied mathematics (there does exist multiple areas of study within the umbrella of mathematics, applied math being one of them). During which time, to help make ends meet, I was a teaching assistant (TA). This basically meant that I assisted a professor teaching a class by taking on some of the lecturing responsibility, and all the grading.
During a certain semester I was TA'ing two classes, which was very time consuming to say the least. One class had a Game Theory section to it. Game Theory is a branch of applied mathematics that analyses interactions and conflicts among two or more parties. Conflicts and interactions where the participants, or players, obey a published set of rules. Games like chess are analyzed using so-called decision trees. The more branches in the tree, the farther ahead into the game you can strategize. Also, a game like rock-paper-scissors can be analyzed since it is what's called a zero-sum game which Game Theory accounts for.
But I don't wanna talk about chess or a zero-sum game here. I wanna talk about another interesting scenario I learned about. That being the Prisoners Dilemma.
Consider you have two people whom have committed a crime. They are caught, but the police do not have enough evidence to convict both of them. However, it is more or less implied that they are both guilty, so a way must be found to administer some sort of combined punishment. The Prisoners Dilemma states that you must separate the two criminals, and interrogate them individually without the ability to communicate with one another. During which you offer them the following.
If you snitch on your partner, and they don't snitch on you, you will be set free and your partner will get a three-year sentence. If you both do not snitch, you both will get one year. However, if you both snitch, a two-year sentence awaits for each.
It is a very clever strategy on the part of the authoritative figures, for it incentives each prisoner to snitch. The reward of being set free is very possible and staring them in the face. Flirting with the psychology of each prisoner and their alliance, or lack thereof, towards their accomplice. Whichever the outcome, the authoritative figures stand to win. But, I would assume criminals with a modicum of common sense will both end up snitching.
For parents of multiple children reading this, pay attention. When your kids want to team up try and pull a fast one on you, use this as one tool in your arsenal to pull a fast one back on them, and then some…! Once upon a time, I was watching a YouTube vlog of a mom to a toddler. She told the viewers that when your kids start to tire you out, you gotta flip it on them and tire them out. Let them know whose boss. They entered into your world, you didn't enter theirs.
You are encouraged to pay attention to how the universe works around you. Only the gift of inspiration shall follow. Or examples, if you will, that can be adapted to your own life.
I like to preach about the importance of mental exercise. Understanding how the world works takes intellectual fortitude at times. Coming out of the others side will make you mentally stronger in every way.
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