No. 112 · People · Game Theory
Tit for Tat
Start kind, answer in kind, forgive quickly, and others learn to cooperate with you.
In the Almanac
“Axelrod’s tournaments”, 1980 · “Harley-Davidson”, 2018
Both stories in full, three ways to use it and where it misleads.
Get the AlmanacQuestions
What is Tit for Tat?
Tit for Tat means opening with cooperation, then copying what the other side did last. In Robert Axelrod's computer tournaments, this simple strategy beat cleverer rivals. But tariff wars, like the one that hit Harley-Davidson in 2018, show how mirroring can spiral into endless retaliation.
How do you use Tit for Tat?
Start with goodwill, respond clearly to bad behaviour, and forgive quickly when the other side returns to cooperating. Add a little extra generosity to stop feuds from echoing on.
When does Tit for Tat matter?
Tit for Tat is one of the 60 mental models for people, the situations where you ask: Why do people act as they do, and how do I work with them? Within that, it belongs to “Cooperation and trust”, alongside Cooperation, Free Rider Problem and Game Theory.
What is an example of Tit for Tat?
Two stories show it at work: Axelrod’s tournaments (1980) and Harley-Davidson (2018). Both are told in full in The Mental Models Daily Almanac, which has two stories for each of its 365 models.
Which mental models are related to Tit for Tat?
Reciprocity, Prisoner’s Dilemma and Feedback Loops. Tit for Tat itself comes from game theory.