Mind and Heart of the Negotiator, Second Edition, The

The Prisoner's Dilemma

Thelma and Louise are common criminals who have just been arrested on suspicion of burglary. There is enough evidence to convict each suspect of a minor breaking-and-entering crime, but insufficient evidence to convict the suspects on a more serious felony charge of burglary and assault. The district attorney immediately separates Thelma and Louise after their arrest. Each suspect is approached separately and presented with two options: confess to the serious burglary charge or remain silent (not confess). The consequences of each course of action depend on what the other decides to do. The catch is that Thelma and Louise must make their choices independently. They cannot communicate with each other in any way prior to ...