The Phenomenon of "Involution" in the Craze for Postgraduate Entrance Examinations--An Analysis Based on the Prisoner's Dilemma

In recent years, the employment situation has become increasingly severe. With the boost from schools and mass media, the number of people taking the postgraduate entrance examination has continuously reached new highs, and there has been an internal competition in the postgraduate entrance examination craze. The Prisoner's dilemma, as a model of game theory, can be used to analyze the form of students who are highly competitive. By using two virtual players to compare the different choices students make during their preparation for the postgraduate entrance examination, and by analyzing the results of different decisions through the benefit values, it is concluded that preparing for the postgraduate entrance examination in an "involution" state does not ensure students' safe admission to postgraduate studies; instead, it may lead to a loss-making situation.