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The evolution of lying in well-mixed populations
Valerio Capraro1, Matjaž Perc2,3, Daniele Vilone4,5
1Department of Economics, Middlesex University, The Burroughs, London NW4 4BT, UK.
Journal of the Royal Society, Interface
|August 1, 2019
Summary
Understanding lying dynamics is crucial for societal well-being. Statistical physics models reveal how different lie types, like altruistic, black, and Pareto white lies, evolve in populations, influencing liar and believer frequencies.
Area of Science:
- Evolutionary game theory
- Statistical physics
- Social dynamics
Background:
- Lying has significant negative consequences for individuals and societies.
- Understanding the evolution and proliferation of deception is vital for societal well-being.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the evolution of lying and belief dynamics using statistical physics.
- To analyze four distinct lie types: altruistic white lies, black lies, spiteful lies, and Pareto white lies.
Main Methods:
- Utilized the sender-receiver game model in well-mixed populations.
- Employed the Monte Carlo method to determine stationary frequencies of liars and believers.
- Analyzed the impact of different lie types and payoff structures on behavioral dynamics.
Main Results:
- Spiteful lies led to trivial dynamics with universal truth-telling and belief.
- Altruistic and black lies resulted in prevalent lying and non-belief, with frequencies dependent on payoffs and non-monotonic evolution.
- Pareto white lies exhibited complex dynamics, allowing for the evolution of lying and belief across all frequencies based on payoffs.
Conclusions:
- The type of lie and payoff structure significantly influence the evolution of deception and belief in populations.
- Findings offer insights into moral behavior and the spread of misinformation.
- Complex dynamics observed in Pareto white lies highlight the nuanced nature of strategic deception.
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