Because deep thinking is good for the mind!

[kaaatie]

I have a hypothetical question related to a conversation that I've been having...

Let's presume that there's a group of prisoners (let's say 10 of them). An executioner puts them all in a position where each individual has a 50% chance of surviving (and a 50% chance of dying). There's no chance of escape, and no chance of rescue. However, if one of the prisoners volunteers to take the 50% chance of dying, then the other prisoners are all guaranteed to survive. The question is: do you think one of them would volunteer? Do you think the size of the group would influence the outcome?

Now, a different example.

A group of people are working in an office, and someone comes in and offers them all a chance to be given a new car (a corvette). Each individual has a 50% chance of getting a new car. However, if one person agrees to take the 50% chance at the car, then everyone else is guaranteed to get a new car. Do you think someone would volunteer? Do you think people would be more or less likely to volunteer in this example versus the other example?

I think this seems like the perfect opportunity for a poll:

[Poll #1194893]

Comments

[cesperanza.livejournal.com]

I said maybe only because--there's this famous psychological example where people don't want other people to have more than them, even if, hypothetically, giving other people more means they'd get more than they'd normally get. (Sorry if that's not clear; brain not working so well and it's late.) So, like, logically speaking, if nobody else will volunteer (i.e. if there isn't a logical alternative candidate in the mix) you'd be best off volunteering cause 50% is as good as you're gonna get anyway, plus you do this good deed: logically, that should be a no brainer, except for some people, the very fact that others are getting more than you even if you yourself gain and/or don't lose is a problem.

That's about as clear as I'm getting on this tonight! *G*

[kaaatie.livejournal.com]

Yeah, I've read a couple of similar experiments. It's very interesting that people often don't want to see someone else get more than them.

Anyway, thanks for answering! :)