Studies of Human Behavioural Patterns during the COVID-19 Pandemic Using Evolutionary Game Theory – Prisoner’s Dilemma

Chew, Hwa Ern (2022) Studies of Human Behavioural Patterns during the COVID-19 Pandemic Using Evolutionary Game Theory – Prisoner’s Dilemma. Final Year Project (Bachelor), Tunku Abdul Rahman University College.

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Abstract

This study aims to expand the knowledge put out by previous researches regarding the relationship between evolutionary game theory and a pandemic. In this study, we study the human behavioural patterns for the vaccination strategy in Malaysia during the COVID-19 Pandemic by using Evolutionary Game Theory – Prisoner’s Dilemma. By simplifying the payoff matrix in Prisoners Dilemma using the cost to benefit ratio r, we are able to investigate whether the human behavioural patterns in the vaccination strategy meet the evolutionary stable strategy of Prisoner's Dilemma, the defective strategy. In Prisoner's Dilemma, individuals are likely to choose to defect regardless of what the opponent chooses. However, to achieve herd immunity, cooperation is vital. During the Covid-19 pandemic, individuals are likely to choose not to take the vaccine if the risk of side effects is high even though vaccination program is vital to build community immunity. The findings of the study show that human behavioural patterns in the vaccination strategy meet the evolutionary stable strategy of Prisoner's Dilemma when the risk of side effects (cost to benefit ratio) is greater than 0.2. Thus, to build community immunity through the vaccination program, the risk of side effects should be reduced.