Construction and application of hyper-inverse conflict models based on the sequential stability

Abstract

Based on the graph model for conflict resolution (GMCR), an analytical framework is proposed to assist the focal decision maker (DM) with an informational advantage in resolving real-world hyper-inverse conflict situations considering the sequential (SEQ) stability. The hyper-inverse conflict resolution aims to obtain the opponent’s misunderstanding preferences of focal DM, which can assist the focal DM in taking the initiative in a conflict. Among all stabilities in GMCR, the SEQ stability is selected in the present study, because this stability concept provides a logical basis for a DM to sanction the opponent, which reflects the case for many conflicts. Moreover, a nonlinear binary optimization model rooted in the matrix representation of SEQ stability is constructed to capture the cause and process of the abnormal individual stability (or stabilities) in the hypergame. Then, a solution procedure is designed for solving the optimization model to obtain the preferences that are misunderstood by the opponent. Finally, an illustrative example of two DMs in an environmental management conflict is studied to demonstrate how the proposed framework can be conveniently employed in practice.