A game of strategy, as currently conceived in game theory, is a situation in which two or more “players” make
choices among available alternatives (moves). The totality of choices determines the outcomes of the game,
and it is assumed that the rank order of preferences for the outcomes is different for different players. Thus the
“interests” of the players are generally in conflict. Whether these interests are diametrically opposed or only
partially opposed depends on the type of game.
Psychologically, most interesting situations arise when the interests of the players are partly coincident and
partly opposed, because then one can postulate not only a conflict among the players but also inner conflicts
within the players. Each is torn between a tendency to cooperate, so as to promote the common interests, and
a tendency to complete, so as to enhance his own individual interests.
Internal conflicts are always psychologically interesting. What we vaguely call “interesting” psychology is in
very great measure the psychology of inner conflict. Inner conflict is also held to be an important component of
serious literature as distinguished from less serious genres. The classical tragedy, as well as the serious novel,
reveals the inner conflict of central figures. The superficial adventure story, on the other hand, depicts only
external conflict; that is, the threats of the person with whom the leader (or viewer) identifies stem in these
stories exclusively from external obstacles and from the adversaries who create them. On the most primitive
level this sort of external conflict is psychologically empty. In the fisticuffs between the protagonists of good
and evil, no psychological problems are involved or, at any rate, none are depicted in juvenile represents of
conflict.
The detective story, the “adult” analogue of a juvenile adventure tale, has at times been described as a
glorification of intellectualized conflict. However, a great deal of the interest in the plots of these stories is
sustained by withholding the unraveling of a solution to a problem. The effort of solving the problem is in itself
not a conflict if the adversary (the unknown criminal) remains passive, like Nature, whose secrets the scientist
supposedly unravels by deduction. If the adversary actively puts obstacles in the detective’s path toward the
solution, there is genuine conflict. But the conflict is psychologically interesting only to the extent that it
contains irrational components such as tactical error on the criminal’s part or the detective’s insight into some
psychological quick of the criminal or something of this sort. Conflict conducted in a perfectly rational manner
is psychologically no more interesting than a standard Western. For example, Tic‐tac‐toe, played perfectly by
both players, is completely devoid of psychological interest. Chess may be psychologically interesting but only to
the extent that it is played not quite rationally. Played completely rationally, chess would not be different from
Tic‐tac‐toe.
In short, a pure conflict of interest (what is called a zero‐sum game) although it offers a wealth of interesting
conceptual problems, is not interesting psychologically, except to the extent that its conduct departs from
rational norms.
1)According to the passage, internal conflicts are psychologically more interesting than external conflicts
because
A)internal conflicts, rather than external conflicts, form an important component of serious literature as
distinguished from less serious genres.
B)only juveniles or very few “adults” actually experience external conflict, while internal conflict is more
widely prevalent in society.
C)in situations of internal conflict, individuals experience a dilemma in resolving their own preferences for
different outcomes.
D)there are no threats to the reader (or viewer) in case of external conflicts
2) Which, according to the author, would qualify as interesting psychology?
A) A statistician’s dilemma over choosing the best method to solve an optimization problem.
B) A chess player’s predicament over adopting a defensive strategy against an aggressive opponent
C) A mountaineer’s choice of the best path to Mt. Everest from the base camp.
D) A finance manger’s quandary over the best way of raising money from the market.
3)According to the passage, which of the following options about the application of a game theory to a conflictof‐
interest situation is true?
A) Assuming that the rank order of preferences for options is different for different players.
B) Accepting that the interests of different players are often in conflict.
C) Not assuming that the interests are in complete disagreement.
D) All of the above

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