Utility-based model for classifying adversarial behaviour in multi-agent systems

Interactions and social relationships among agents are an important aspect of multi-agent systems. In this paper, we explore how such relationships and their relation to agent’s objectives influence agent’s decision-malting. Building on the framework of stochastic games, we propose a classification scheme, based on a formally defined concept of interaction stance, for categorizing agent’s behaviour as self-interested, altruistic, competitive, cooperative, or adversarial with respect to other agents in the system. We show how the scheme can be employed in defining behavioural norms, capturing social aspects of agent’s behaviour and/or in representing social configurations of multi agent systems.