The Prisoner's Dilemma is a game theory scenario in which two individuals are faced with a decision to cooperate or betray each other. The scenario is often used to illustrate the concept of rational self-interest and the potential for cooperation or conflict in social situations.

In the Prisoner's Dilemma, two individuals are arrested and placed in separate cells. They are told that if one confesses and the other remains silent, the confessor will receive a reduced sentence while the silent one will receive a harsher sentence. If both confess, they will both receive a moderate sentence. If both remain silent, they will both receive a light sentence.

The dilemma arises because each individual has an incentive to confess, regardless of what the other person does. If one person confesses, the other person is better off confessing as well, since they will receive a moderate sentence instead of a harsh one. However, if both confess, they both receive a moderate sentence, which is worse than if both had remained silent.

The Prisoner's Dilemma illustrates the tension between individual self-interest and collective cooperation. While each individual has an incentive to act in their own self-interest, the best outcome for both individuals is to cooperate and remain silent. However, this requires trust and a willingness to sacrifice short-term gains for long-term benefits.