Good Day Friends,

I just tool a sip of my capo and it's too hot to drink, however, it's the greatest capo I have made yet.

First, I want to discuss the concept of including game theory in our study of public relations.
In the study of public relations, most of the theory we study is polarizing.Our method of communicating messages is either asymmetrical (feedback and negotiation not allowed) or two-way symmetrical (feedback and negotiation allowed) (Grunig).We do not extensively study the gray area between the two.However, game theory extensively studies that gray area and how we solve conflicts.

According to University of Pittsburgh professor Dr. John Duffy “games” has 2 or more players, contain some choice of action where strategy matters, has one or more outcomes, and outcomes depends on the strategies chosen by all players; there is strategic interaction.

Duffy does not include games of pure chance, e.g. lotteries, slot machines where strategies don’t matter.

I feel game theory is relevant to public relations because it is a convenient way in analyze strategic interactions between our client and their publics.

Duffy outlines the five elements of a “game:”

1.How many players
2. The set of all possible actions for players
3.Information that players have available when choosing their actions
4.A description of the “payoff consequences” for each player for every possible combination of actions chosen by all players playing the game. 5.A description of all players’ preferences over payoffs.

This elementary explanation of game theory can greatly improve our crisis planning.Let’s quickly break it down using Duffy’s five elements.


1. “How may players” – Deciding who all of your client’s publics are and where
Example: media, stakeholders, the public

2.“The set of all possible actions for players” -after deciding your high-problem/low-constraint target (most active target); decide all the possible actions that your target can perform and their agendas

3.“Information that players have available when choosing their actions” –how much access to information (e.g. experts, library, newspaper & internet) does your target public have.This can be used in deciding the effective mediums for sending and receiving information.

4.“A description of the ‘payoff consequences (desirable outcomes)’ for each player for every possible combination of actions chosen by all players playing the game.” – examining potential desirable outcome reactions to messages the public may have in interpreting your messages.

5.“A description of all players’ preferences over payoffs.” – Discovering which desirable outcome your publics prefer.

Game theory offers us a less polarizing area of study.Moreover, allows us to further analyze our publics and all of their possible actions.However, I feel this is difficult to perform in a contingency plan, but in a strategic crisis communication plan it can be beneficial; especially during the research and objectives process.


Do you think game theory should be in the public relations curriculum, or do you see any flaws in the study?Or do you prefer another theory?
My capo is at its perfect temperature so tell what you think