Restructuring of neighborhood definition based on strategies will enhance the cooperation in a spatial prisoner's dilemma

Abstract

Defectors often survive in spatial game theory, prompting researchers to devise models for cooperators' survival. However, most models overlook players' perspectives based on their strategies. This study introduces an agent-based model considering players' varied neighborhood conditions. In the first model, losing a competition alters the neighborhood definition, randomly adjusting the number of neighborhoods. In the second model, the number of neighborhoods changes based on the player's strategy after losing a competition. Compared to the other proposed model and a traditional spatial prisoner's dilemma model, the second model facilitates easier maintenance of cooperator density.