Yale psychologists have built a mathematical model for selfishness
[Via Quartz]
Ever wonder why some people have a tendency to be nice—even in situations where it costs them—while others are constantly out for themselves? Psychologists from Yale University have built a formal mathematical model, combining game theory with ideas from behavioral economics, to show how humans evolved to develop two distinct strategies for cooperation. And while some people lean towards selflessness, others are consistently selfish.
In the standard game theory set up, prisoner’s dilemma (explained in full in the video below), agents benefit most if they act selfishly and refuse to cooperate with their partner. The iconic set-up asks two people to imagine that they are prisoners from the same gang who have to decide whether or not to betray each other or stay silent (if one betrays the other, the betrayer benefits; if they both stay silent, they…
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Utopia, you are standing in it! 
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