A Psychosocial Approach to Game-Theoretic Analysis of Rock Paper Scissors

1. Introduction

Rock paper scissors, also known as scissors paper rock, and rarely ever referred to as paper rock scissors, is a game typically played between two people, where one match of rock paper scissors (RPS) consists of both players throwing out a hand gesture at the same time after a brief countdown. These hand gestures represent a rock, paper, or a pair of scissors, respectively (some variants also allow for other objects, such as guns. However, we will only be considering the usage of actual guns to gain a tactical advantage). Rock beats scissors by denting them, scissors beats paper by cutting it, and paper beats rock by wrapping itself around the rock. Oftentimes, competitive games of RPS take the form of best-of-three matches, though quick one-of matches are commonplace when it is necessary to decide a “winner” of something between two people, and a coin-flip isn’t an option.

Given the nature of the game, one might prematurely assume that winning a match of RPS is no different to winning a coin flip. It is seemingly impossible to anticipate the move of your opponent and develop a counter strategy, as it is usually equally likely that your opponent has actually chosen the perfect counter strategy to your counter strategy, resulting in an impasse. This is the pitfall that many new, and even experienced players of RPS face. This paper highlights a new strategy, guaranteeing victory in a match of RPS once the prerequisites are satisfied, which is accessible to even those new to the deceptively simple game of RPS.

The authors hold no responsibility for the possible ramifications of following the strategy outlined in this paper, possible ramifications including: loss of friendships, imprisonment, death, and in extreme cases, losing your game of RPS.

2. Important Definitions

Before detailing the strategy, it is important to define a handful of other terms that will be referenced throughout the strategy guide, as some of these terms may initially be unfamiliar to those who are only familiar with the game of RPS, and nothing else.

2.1 Associate

An item or living being is an associate of somebody if there is a close relationship from this “somebody” to the item or living being in question. This relationship need not be reciprocated. Using John Doe as an example, some associates of his may include:

1. His wife, Jane Doe. They were high school sweethearts, she being captain of the cheer team, and John the charming and well-liked quarterback of the American football team. Despite the fact that Jane’s opinion of John has diminished ever since she had to quit college to move across the country with John, John’s continued perception of Jane as being “better than nothing” qualifies Jane as an associate of John.
2. His drinking buddy, Giles Corey. They became fast friends in college, and continued their relationship despite John’s sudden move across the country due to the ailing health of his parents, as Giles happened to live in the same area. The locals regard them as partners in crime due to their raucous behavior when intoxicated. Because most nights, John spends his time with Giles rather than with his wife Jane, Giles is considered an associate of John.
3. His childhood hamster, Jeremy. Even though Jeremy has long since been deceased, Jeremy was the only other (formerly) living being that John would proclaim he loved unconditionally, the one other living being the aforementioned Giles Corey. Oftentimes, deceased individuals would not qualify as associates, however, because John would likely be incredibly shocked at the sight of Jeremy’s remains, Jeremy is considered an associate of John’s.

2.2 Intimidation

While the feeling of being intimidated is a primal emotion that many of us have had the misfortune of feeling, seldom do people get the opportunity to be the ones intimidating. Intimidation is any series of actions, or any one solitary action, that makes the target(s) feel intimidated. Continuing to use the example of John Doe, examples of intimidation include:

1. Holding Jane Doe, John Doe’s wife, hostage. The later section will highlight in greater detail ways to hold someone hostage. By sending a picture of Jane in a position of danger, John will feel intimidated, thus this is a successful instance of intimidation.
2. Threatening to reveal the nature of John and Giles’ close relationship to Jane. Although Jane is no longer as infatuated as she used to be with John, this will still result in John feeling intimidated as he wonders how you gained this information, thus this is an example of intimidation.
3. Leaving the remains of Jeremy at John’s doorstep, ideally after 6:00 PM on a weekday, as if Jane were to see these remains when she returns home from work, she’d dispose of them without any further questioning. This timing would be crucial to ensure that Jane does not interfere with the presence of Jeremy and that John will be able to see these remains. John will feel intimidated regardless, but it is also worth noting that this intimidation attempt will be more effective if Jeremy’s corpse is somehow preserved, so it is immediately apparent that the remains are that of Jeremy, and not any small rodent.

2.3 Fear

Ultimately, it is difficult to assuage whether an attempt of intimidation is successful without understanding the meaning of fear. This section will try to briefly establish the concept of fear, for the lucky few that are unfamiliar. Departing from the story of John Doe, some examples of fear include:

1. You return to your childhood home that you have lived in since you were born for spring break. College was the first time you were ever away from home this long, and you hope that this break is as rejuvenating as fall break was. However, you find that your parents often forget your name, and it takes multiple attempts for you to get their attention. When you do have their attention, the only expression you ever see on their faces is a wide grin which takes care to only expose a modest amount of pearly white teeth. When you are not in their immediate line of sight, they stand motionless, the same expression on their face. Every night, when your mother tucks you into bed and kisses you on the forehead, her clenched teeth pressing against your skin, you may feel fear.
2. Everyday that your parents leave for work, you feel relief. However, on a sunny Wednesday afternoon, when you wake up and go through the motions of your morning routine, you realize that there is now an extra door leading from your bedroom, matching exactly that of the bathroom door. When curiosity gets the better of you, and you enter this new bathroom, only to find yourself reentering your bedroom from the normal bathroom door, you feel perplexed. Then, when this extra door is nowhere to be found, and the door behind you shuts and locks the moment you are no longer in the doorframe, you may feel fear.
3. While you wander the unfamiliar new halls of your childhood home and your sense of time slips away, you notice how you don’t recognize the smiling child in any of the childhood photographs your parents had so lovingly hung up throughout the house. The child’s grin is far too wide, and despite you distinctly remembering having braces at that age, its teeth are pearly white. After descending the basement stairs to return to your bedroom on the second floor, you try the bathroom door once more to find it unlocked. As you reenter the bathroom, and look at yourself in the mirror. A wide grin can’t help but stretch its way across your face with glee, as you have finally made it to the bathroom to begin your morning routine. The first step of your routine is to count the number of teeth you have. Identifying the emotion you feel as you do so is left as an exercise to the reader.

3. The Strategy

Regarding RPS as purely a game of chance results in a game with little strategy to be had. However, understanding the many psychosocial dynamics that are at play in society are key to determining a winning strategy for RPS. These strategies usually require some amount of knowledge about the person you are competing against, such as knowledge of their associates (defined above), however, a general strategy is also included in case this knowledge is for whatever reason unobtainable. This paper will not go into detail as to how to obtain such information.

3.1 A General Strategy

This strategy is to be used when very little information is known about your opponent, and it is difficult to procure any information. It will be assumed that the opponent is a blank slate.

Materials list:

• A weapon

Procedure:

1. There are two possible cases, depending on whether or not your opponent is capable of feeling emotion and pain:

1. If this is the case:

1. Boast about your flawless track record with games of RPS to your opponent. Regardless of whether this is true or not at the time of boasting, this raises the chances of instilling a sense of helplessness into your opponent. Otherwise, this has a chance of instilling a false sense of ease in your opponent if they assume that you are bluffing. Either result is advantageous.
2. Point your weapon towards the opponent. If your weapon of choice has high firepower or is a bludgeoning weapon, point this weapon towards this head, as in society, brain damage is undesirable, and the brain is located in the head. If your weapon deals damage by piercing or otherwise cutting into the flesh, hold your weapon at chest level, to maximize the amount of vulnerable locations you threaten to strike. Most people do not walk around in suits of armor. If for whatever reason, you do not have a weapon, any other form of intimidation can be substituted here.
3. Proclaim the move that you will make. Rock is recommended. If your opponent is exhibiting great amounts of fear, it may prove further advantageous to instruct your opponent what move to make. Figure 1 (below) highlights what instruction to give your opponent depending on the move you claim you will make.

Figure 1: Matchups in RPS that result in your victory

4. Begin the countdown, and when it comes time to do so, make the move that you claimed you will make in step (iii). Use your other hand to continue pointing your weapon of choice at your opponent, in the same manner as described in step (ii).
5. On the off chance that you somehow lose this match of RPS, follow through with the threat made in step (ii), to ensure further victory in games of RPS you might play, as failing to follow through with your intimidation will result in reduced efficacy of step (ii).

2. Otherwise, cry.

3.2 The Ideal Strategy

The ideal strategy differs from the general strategy as it requires knowledge of your opponent’s associates in advance, as well as further amounts of preparation in order to succeed. In spite of this, this strategy is considered ideal because it avoids the risk of your opponent overpowering you when you intimidate them, as advance preparation for your intimidation method ensures that your opponent will be overcome with fear, and will also be powerless in undermining your intimidation at that immediate moment.

The overall strategy follows the same steps as in 3.1, replacing step (ii) with a different intimidation method, focusing on an associate of your choice. Therefore, this section will instead focus on methods to identify associates of your opponent, and suggested means of intimidation to maximize fear.

Figure 2: Common candidates for associates, recommended intimidation methods, and additional notes

4. Conclusion

Ultimately, guaranteeing victory in the turbulent game of RPS is dependent on understanding the societal context the game exists in. We can all fall prey to the whims of our brains in response to intimidation. Surviving in the dog-eat-dog world of RPS is a matter of becoming the intimidator, as opposed to the intimidated (the eating dog, as opposed to the eaten dog, if you will). Ignoring this reality can be considered reflective of the losing attitude many hold towards life. However, nothing is truly up to the Great Random. Taking the weaknesses of your fellow man in mind, victory will not be clean, but it will be in your hands.

Further research is recommended in understanding how to guarantee victory against those without emotions or fear of mortality, such as against computers. Considering growing fears in society regarding a robot takeover, discovering a weakness of computers in the game of RPS can then be translated to strategies to prevent the computer uprising. If computers are truly made in our image, then they will fall the same way we do. Our human hands can only hope for perfection, but everything will fall short, even our treacherous machines.