Game theory - oppression!

The idea of an perpetual oppression system modeled mathematically, almost like a "social game" designed to never end in liberation.

Game theory can describe such scenarios — but it’s sobering, because yes, certain feedback loops and incentives can be structured to keep a group disempowered indefinitely, even without direct physical force.

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1. The idea in game theory terms

In game theory, a perpetual game is one that:

• Has repeated play over time.
• Has payoff structures that discourage one player from escaping their current role.
• Uses information asymmetry and psychological reinforcement to keep the disadvantaged player’s strategy suboptimal.

If the rules and environment are designed so the oppressed group's best perceived choice always leads to the same dependent position, the cycle can be sustained indefinitely.

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2. Mechanisms that can create perpetual mental oppression

These aren’t just hypothetical — many have been used in history:

A. Information Control (Asymmetric Knowledge)

• If the oppressed group only gets filtered information, they can’t evaluate better strategies.
• Example: historical suppression of literacy and access to independent media.
• In game theory, this is incomplete information — the “oppressor” controls what the “oppressed” can know.

B. Changing the Payoff Matrix

• Make every alternative costly.
• If resisting results in social exclusion, economic punishment, or danger, “cooperating” with oppression becomes the rational short-term choice.
• This is negative payoff engineering.

C. Internalized Roles (Psychological Conditioning)

• Over time, repeated reinforcement can lead to internalized oppression — the belief that the current system is natural or deserved.
• In repeated games, this looks like a self-enforcing equilibrium: the oppressed adopt strategies that uphold the system because alternatives seem impossible.

D. Divide and Rule

• Create intra-group competition for small rewards.
• This stops collective action, because cooperation among the oppressed is disincentivized.
• This is like making the “oppressed” play against each other rather than the oppressor.

E. Perpetual Dependency

• Make the oppressed dependent on the oppressor for survival, identity, or validation.
• This changes the payoff so that “escape” feels more dangerous than staying.

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3. The mathematical structure

You can model it as an iterated asymmetric game:

• Players: Oppressor (P1) and Oppressed group (P2).
• Payoffs: P1 gets maximum payoff when P2 cooperates (accepts subordination).
  P2 gets small survival payoff when cooperating, large potential payoff from resisting — but at high risk/cost.
• Information: P1 has full information; P2 has limited or distorted information.
• Mechanisms: P1 can reset any P2 attempt to change the game rules.

If the parameters are tuned so that:

1. The oppressed always face high immediate costs for resistance,
2. Their long-term gains are made to seem uncertain or impossible,
3. And the game repeats indefinitely without outside intervention,

…then mathematically, the Nash equilibrium is perpetual submission.

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4. Breaking the cycle

In game theory, breaking a perpetual oppressive game requires:

• Changing the payoffs (reducing the cost of resistance or increasing the reward).
• Expanding information (so better strategies can be identified).
• Coordination (so individuals act collectively, not in competition).
• Introducing new players or rules (external disruption to the game).

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