In this comprehensive survey, human decision-making in the context of classic game theory dilemmas was thoroughly investigated. The study delved into the cognitive responses to various social dilemmas by employing a field survey with a cross-sectional design to better understand the dynamics of cooperation and defection. A series of carefully crafted 2 × 2 games were included in the questionnaire with a strategic emphasis on examining the interactions between different types of opponents. The survey aimed to explore how individuals navigate complex social scenarios and make decisions in the face of dilemmas. Through this approach, the study seeks to illuminate the underlying factors that influence cooperative behavior in game-theoretic contexts. The study examined how dilemma strength influences children's cooperation and decision-making in the Prisoner's Dilemma (PD) and Trivial game scenarios across Pakerhat Union, Khanshama Upazila, and Dinajpur Sadar, Bangladesh. The results showed that Dinajpur Sadar exhibited the highest levels of cooperation in both PD and Trivial settings, suggesting stronger engagement and consistent behavior compared to the other regions. The statistical analysis revealed that education played a significant role in Pakerhat, while the boy-girl ratio had a notable impact in Khanshama particularly in the Trivial game. Dinajpur Sadar was found to have the most pronounced effects from education and gender making it the best area for studying these factors. These findings highlight the importance of educational resources, social environment, and gender factors in shaping children's decision-making in social dilemmas.