A lot depends on the starting point.

Game theory, however, deals only with the way in which ultrasmart, all knowing people should behave in competitive situations, and has little to say to Mr. X as he confronts the morass of his problem.

A mediator is an impartial outsider who tries to aid the negotiators in their quest to find a compromise agreement.

the mediation of internal conflicts can be resolved by linkages with other problems.

Most people, even in simple risky situations, don't behave the way the theory of utility would have them behave.

A final word of advice: don't gloat about how well you have done.

It is always amazing to see how wide a spectrum of results can be obtained from replicating an identical negotiation with different principal actors; it makes no difference whether there subjects are inexperienced or whether they are senior executives and young presidents of business firms. That is an important lesson to be learned here.