A third explanation invokes the concept of a nonzero-sum game, and was worked out in the book "Nonzero" by the journalist Robert Wright. Wright points out that in certain circumstances, cooperation or non-violence can benefit both parties in an interaction, such as gains in trade when two parties trade their surpluses and both come out ahead, or when two parties lay down their arms and split the so-called peace dividend that results in them not having to fight the whole time.
Treće objašnjenje poziva se na koncept "igre nenultog zbroja," i razrađeno je u knjizi "Nonzero" novinara Roberta Wrighta. Wright ističe da u određenim okolnostima suradnja, uključujući nenasilje, može koristiti objema stranama u interakciji, npr. u trgovini kada dvije strane razmjenjuju svoje viškove obje zarađuju, ili kada dvije strane polože oružje i podijele tzv. dividendu mira, rezultat toga što se ne moraju stalno boriti.