Game Theory: STDs – To Tell, or not to Tell Part 4 of 4

In my last post I introduced a change in the table, and the power of a guilty conscience.

For some people, that feeling of clean conscience might just be enough to keep them honest. So they move from the upper left corner to either the upper right corner, or the lower left corner. At that point, the other partner might come clean as well, hence the further shift to the lower right corner (since they’re not getting laid anyways).

Or they might not come clean as well. There are those infected ones out there who would love to be the “wronged” party just to hold it against you. This is especially true since this type is rarely in the position to point fingers, and they might relish it.

That’s why I put stars in all three scenarios, to show that all three are possible equilibriums. But regardless of which three it is, sex won’t happen because all it takes is one person to confess for it to stop it. After all, it takes two to tango. And nobody wants to dance with an infected partner.

That’s nice and all, you might argue, but what about the folks who get the mild-tickle type of conscience attack?

That’s why in many countries now, people can be criminally charged for exposing their partner to HIV. Where morals fail, the threat of legal punishment acts as an incentive to behave honestly. The table representing such punishment costs would then be similar to the one representing the moral conscience above.

That’s nice and all, you might argue, but there are plenty of STDs out there that are not as serious as HIV but would still suck to get. What to do then?

That’s why, boys and girls, you should ask for a copy of their doctor’s record. A fresh and recent one, like this Monday’s. Then patiently wait out that HIV three-month window (use that period of time to get to know them better; sometimes you might not feel like sleeping with them once you do that). Be prepared to provide the same proof yourself. Trust no one if they only give you verbal assurances that they’re clean. Be suspicious if they act all hurt and defensive.

If your partner wants to get laid bad enough, he/she will get his/her ass to a health clinic and get some written proof. And if they really really want to get laid, then they could cough up the dough for the faster testing.