Experiment N°1 : The Blotto Game
Participants : Varies but 4 would be ideal.
Experience Description :
Subjects are restrained in a comfortable chair. No contact between them will be allowed for the duration of the test. In front of them there is a touchscreen indicating several body parts : Neck, arms & underarms, ribs & belly, legs & knees and finally feet.
Subjects are given a capital of 25 points to distribute, amongst those 5 locations, to distribute freely. Minimum one point must be allocated to each spot, there is no maximum as long as you have enough points. The amount of points indicates how much the subject wants that spot to be protected.
Points distribution could therefore be (5,5,5,5,5) but also (10,1,5,1,8) or (21,1,1,1,1).
When all participants are done, their input will be compared for each spot.
The subject having entered the highest number on a specific spot will get spared for that spot in particular. The second highest will then receive a light tickle treatment, third one, slightly worse treatment, ect... until you arrive at the last person who will receive the worse possible treatment on said spot. This is applied to all 5 inputs.
To collect valuable data, 10 sessions of 5 minutes will be hold.
Expectations :
It is impossible for someone to protect themself for every spot, so the players have a choice : Split the torment at a reasonable level over their entire body or spare your worse spots at all costs while taking a more heavy burden on their less ticklish spots.
It will be interesting to observe how each player adapt over the rounds : it is possible that someone discover they are way more ticklish than expected somewhere and have to drastically review their strategy. In any case, data will be recorded and examined thourougly.