Rock Paper Scissors: The Game Strategy and Communication Tool

Rock Paper Scissors (RPS) is a simple yet widely recognized game that can be more than just a casual pastime. By understanding the principles behind the game, we can use it as a valuable tool in game strategy and communication. In this article, we will explore how RPS can be applied to enhance decision-making, strategic thinking, and effective communication skills.

The rules represent the fundamental "frame" within which players can best express their technical and creative skills.

The rules also encourage fun and increase the sense of challenge and healthy competition between participants. Each game is based on a subtle balance of difficulty and reward. Even if it has proved to be "successful", always using the same strategy is not in itself a guarantee of victory, but rather this lack of flexibility, in a globalized and increasingly competitive world, can be particularly problematic. The ability to observe the interlocutor (or the market), understand his strategies, and anticipate his decisions is the only way to obtain and achieve a result both in commercial negotiations and in the management of a workgroup. In business, as in sport, it is essential to acquire specific relational and negotiation skills

The RPS Strategy Model: Enhancing Communication and Negotiation Using Game Theory

A game without rules is not pleasant, and after a while, it gets boring, but if it becomes too difficult, it will only generate frustration and anger. In fact, to be attractive, a game must be able to maintain a balance between these two aspects. The appeal of a game also arises from the uncertainty and the sense of challenge that evokes profound elements of the human soul. So, it is a subtle and unstable balance. This type of interaction and dynamics is in a state of continuous evolution until its conclusion. Nobody can be sure of winning in an absolute sense, even if some strategies can lead, in probabilistic terms, more easily to victory or defeat. We face a dynamic system that changes and evolves based on the relational interaction between the two players. Exactly as it happens in relationships, investments, marketing, interpersonal communication, and, therefore, all daily interactions. From these premises, the RPS Strategy® is born, a model and a strategy inspired by the "Rock Paper Scissors" game.  

Why use the Rock Paper Scissors game as a model?

The idea of ​​using "Rock Paper Scissors" as a metaphor for human interactions was born to provide a model that is easy to remember and visualize and which requires minimal cognitive effort. This allows the RPS Strategy® to be learned quickly and used right away. The RPS Strategy® underlines another essential aspect of the interactions between human beings: they are complex and made up of dozens and dozens of "moves" and exchanges that make it difficult to predict the outcome, as in a negotiation, for example. Therefore, it is not a question of applying a single "fixed" strategy but of knowing how to adapt one's behavior to the environment and to the feedback that comes from others. The RPS Strategy® was created to provide everyone with a simple, intuitive, easy-to-remember model, but at the same time effective for managing communication, negotiation, and sales. This model seeks to provide a different and innovative perspective to all those who need to communicate effectively both in their business and personal sphere.

Why is the RPStrategy® so innovative?

Traditional models rarely take reality into account and depict a world that tends to be "deterministic" and "rational", an approach which, however, seems to work only "in theory". Chance (or luck as you want to define it) can also influence the outcome of an interaction. Not everything is predictable in this world dominated more by uncertainty and chaos than we are led to believe, especially today following the pandemic. For this reason, a game like "Rock Paper Scissors" can be a helpful metaphor capable of representing human interactions well and realistically. We do not know from the start how many rounds we will have to play, we do not know the skills of our opponent, nor how much our emotional state or stress could cause distortions in our style of "play". It is fundamental in the RPS Strategy® model to listen to our interlocutor (both from a verbal and non-verbal point of view) and carefully study his strategies. But it is equally important to become aware of your own style, a goal that can hardly be achieved autonomously. To improve this aspect, a path with a professional is usually necessary. Thanks to the RPS Strategy®, it is possible to identify some rules that can help us better manage communication, reduce conflict, and facilitate the achievement of our goals. All this, as we have mentioned several times, through a probabilistic approach that must consider uncertainty and chance. In short, the RPS Strategy® takes into account the reality in which we live. Let's now see together the three styles Rock, Paper, and Scissors.

THE RPSTRATEGY© STYLES

The RPS Strategy® will provide you with a strategy that is easy to remember but at the same time able to orient you in the complexity of reality in which your modes of interaction will not be defined once and for all but will be in constant dynamic movement.  The difference is substantial. To use the RPS Strategy®, you have to pay attention to the opponent's moves, try to predict them, and act accordingly. But everything will happen on different game turns, that is, the interactions with the interlocutor (turns of speech).  Whether it is a sale, a negotiation, or a university exam, the RPS Strategy® can support you in the communication process. The proposed styles do not have a positive or negative significance in an absolute sense but take on a meaning based on your opponent's move. A move does not absolutely guarantee to score a result but it depends on the interlocutor's response in front of you.

• The ROCK style. It is a direct, confident, and determined attitude. This mode can be undermined by a "Paper" style but be a winner towards a "Scissors" style.
• The PAPER style. It is an assertive attitude, soft but clear and crystalline. This mode can be undermined by a "Scissors" style but be a winner towards a "Rock" style.
• The SCISSORS style. It is a method of communication that, by resorting to some communication tricks, manages to weaken a "Paper" communication but is not very effective towards a "Rock" style.
  

The 10 rules of communication according to the RPS Strategy®

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1. The first move. If you have to start interacting with a person, play "PAPER". It is rare for people to adopt a "SCISSORS" style, at least in the early stages.
2. The stalemate. Suppose you both play the same move all the time. In that case, the discussion will likely become unproductive, dull, or risk the communication is entering a dangerous conflict escalation.
3. If your interlocutor won. If your interlocutor has won, he will likely continue to adopt the same style of play in the next move.
4. The most used style. People tend to use the "ROCK" style more frequently.
5. Persistence. It is rare for a person to maintain the same style for more than three turns. When faced with a repeated "ROCK" response, you persist with your "PAPER" response.
6. Don't let your guard down. Decide your style of play at every move while always remaining alert, aware, and focused (especially if you have just won).
7. If you lose one turn. If you have lost a turn, adjust your move by upgrading the move played by your "opponent" according to the scheme (ROCK> PAPER> SCISSORS> ROCK).
8. If your interlocutor has lost. If, on the other hand, your opponent has lost a turn, use his last move on the next turn.
9. In case of a tie. In case of a tie, downgrade your last move in the next round.
10. How does the "game" end? After a series of Paper exchanges, the two interlocutors have likely reached a negotiating agreement.

The RPS Strategy Model is rooted in the concept of game theory, which explores how individuals make decisions in competitive situations. By applying game theory to negotiations, this model seeks to analyze the underlying dynamics of interpersonal communication and develop effective strategies to optimize outcomes. At its core, the RPS Strategy Model utilizes the framework of the Rock-Paper-Scissors game, where players choose between three options: rock, paper, or scissors. Each choice has its strengths and weaknesses, creating a dynamic interplay of moves and counter-moves. Similarly, in negotiations, different approaches and tactics can be employed, each with its advantages and disadvantages. The RPS Strategy Model identifies three primary negotiation styles that align with the choices in the game: Rock, Paper, and Scissors. The Rock style represents a competitive and assertive approach, focusing on gaining an advantage and pursuing one's interests. The Paper style, on the other hand, emphasizes collaboration and compromise, seeking mutually beneficial solutions. Lastly, the Scissors style embodies adaptability and flexibility, adjusting strategies to the situation at hand. Understanding and utilizing these negotiation styles strategically is crucial for achieving optimal outcomes. The RPS Strategy Model highlights the importance of recognizing the dominant strategy employed by the counterpart and responding accordingly. For example, if the other party adopts a Rock strategy, countering with a Paper strategy might be more effective by promoting cooperation and defusing potential conflicts.

Furthermore, the RPS Strategy Model emphasizes the significance of psychological factors in negotiations. Emotional intelligence and effective communication play key roles in understanding the motivations, needs, and emotions of the counterpart. By integrating these factors into the negotiation process, it becomes possible to build rapport, establish trust, and reach agreements that satisfy both parties. The RPS Strategy Model also encourages a problem-solving approach, aligning with the collaborative Paper strategy. Instead of viewing negotiations as a win-lose scenario, adopting a problem-solving mindset allows both parties to work together to find creative solutions that address their underlying interests. It is important to note that the RPS Strategy Model is not a one-size-fits-all solution, as negotiation dynamics can vary greatly depending on the context and individuals involved. However, by incorporating the principles of game theory, strategic decision-making, and psychological understanding, this model can serve as a valuable framework for enhancing communication, negotiation, and ultimately achieving more successful outcomes.

Dott.Igor Graziato

Psicologo del Lavoro e delle organizzazioni

Specialista in Psicoterapia

Esperto di VRT (Virtual Reality Therapy)

Master in Cognitive Behavioural Hypnotherapy

Ipnosi Clinica Evidence Based

Membro dell'American Psychological Association

Past Vice President Ordine degli Psicologi del Piemonte