Introduction to Game Theory

I have to say that so far I really like game theory and how it applies to social control. The documentary that we watched for class was fascinating (Game Theory pt1 on YouTube [9:00] Pt2 [8:40] Pt3 [8:36] Pt4 [7:10] ). I loved seeing inside of the real operations of the Rand Corporation and John Nash. I thought he was a little to romanticized for a mathematician in the movie. My favorite part of the documentary was Lang though. Just the fact that Lang had so much influence on the deconstruction/reconstruction of social welfare systems in the UK and that the mighty Margret Thatcher had a think tank based on his research is awesome. The inspection of the overly bureaucratized and inefficient social programs of Britain was long overdue.

I can also feel a kinship with his application of game theory to all personal interactions. Keeping in mind that all game theory application is based on ideal types, Lang's analysis of interpersonal interactions as strategic and selfish is something to seriously think about.

I know that the last part of the documentary on Lang's attack of the American Psychiatric profession is supposed to be taken with a grain of salt but how inspiring still and frightening. I love that Lang got some psychiatrists to question their own profession and the amount of human judgement that goes into diagnosing mental illness. The results of his protest are not necessarily what he had in mind though, a computerized and mathematical system that is now used in psychiatry to diagnose mental illness. I don't have an answer to what might bring more balance into the profession of psychiatry but it is a system in need of serious repairs. Lang showed me that you can inspire change in a seemingly fixed system but beware of what you ask for because you just might get it.