MeatballWiki
Don't know why TitForTat was redirected to the IteratedPrisonersDilemma.
TitForTat can be understand as the biblical "eye for eye, tooth for tooth", but in this context this is not very interesting.
TitForTat is also a well-known simple and successful interaction game strategy:
- (1) trust the partner and cooperate in the first step
- (2) if the partner cooperated in the last step, cooperate in the next step
- (3) if the partner didn't cooperate in the last step, don't cooperate in the next step.
This strategy is quick to forgive temporary destructive behaviour, to get back to collaboration. (ForgiveAndForget)
It shows predictable behaviour, that can't be exploited.
Maybe we need a TrustRoadMap.
There is even a software [SocialOomph] for TwitteR, that automates the strategy of TitForTat. Even in their free version, it realizes this feature (under many others):
Follow those who follow you — Automate! Unfollow those who unfollow you — Automate!
TitForTat as a pattern
Problem: you are in an ambivalent cooperative situation. Your partner shows collaboration but also exploits you, in a maybe complex situation or history.
Solution: Don't think too much about the past, the future counts. Look at the immediate past and act accordingly. This is a simplification of the decision situation primarily. It allows you to act on a sound principle, if you want to.
Comments: If you change you mode of cooperation, communicate why you do this. The strategy won't work, if it is not understood by your partners, and they are used to exploit you.