Evolutionary game theory

Evolutionary game theory (EGT) is the application of <a href="/facts/Game_theory/zkEIj1ya">game theory</a> to evolving populations in <a href="/facts/Biology/1M1ee3pB">biology</a>. It defines a framework of contests, strategies, and analytics into which <a href="/facts/Darwinism/ojpLgHDY">Darwinian</a> competition can be modelled. It originated in 1973 with <a href="/facts/John_Maynard_Smith/yBusnLXU">John Maynard Smith</a> and <a href="/facts/George_R._Price/eG1g7DDC">George R. Price</a>'s formalisation of contests, analysed as strategies, and the mathematical criteria that can be used to predict the results of competing strategies.
Evolutionary game theory differs from classical game theory in focusing more on the dynamics of strategy change. This is influenced by the frequency of the competing strategies in the population.
Evolutionary game theory has helped to explain the basis of <a href="/facts/Altruism_(biology)/wNsytlF9">altruistic</a> behaviours in Darwinian <a href="/facts/Evolution/Hj0qAaBk">evolution</a>. It has in turn become of interest to <a href="/facts/Economists/41nWfEgr">economists</a>, <a href="/facts/Sociologists/AJdDahu6">sociologists</a>, <a href="/facts/Anthropologists/CboLlQq5">anthropologists</a>, and <a href="/facts/Philosophers/Hyvzc54m">philosophers</a>.

Evolutionary game theory open-in-new

Evolutionary game theory