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Opinion formation in laggard societies

P. Klimek1, R. Lambiotte2,3 and S. Thurner1,4

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We introduce a statistical-physics model for opinion dynamics on random networks where agents adopt the opinion held by the majority of their direct neighbors only if the fraction of these neighbors exceeds a certain threshold, pu. We find a transition from total final consensus to a mixed phase where opinions coexist amongst the agents. The relevant parameters are the relative sizes in the initial opinion distribution within the population and the connectivity of the underlying network. As the order parameter we define the asymptotic state of opinions. In the phase diagram we find regions of total consensus and a mixed phase. As the "laggard parameter" pu increases the regions of consensus shrink. In addition we introduce rewiring of the underlying network during the opinion formation process and discuss the resulting consequences in the phase diagram.


PACS

87.23.Ge Dynamics of social systems

05.90.+m Other topics in statistical physics, thermodynamics, and nonlinear dynamical systems (restricted to new topics in section 05)

89.75.Fb Structures and organization in complex systems

Subjects

Environmental and Earth science

Statistical physics and nonlinear systems

Dates

Issue 2 (April 2008)

Received 14 September 2007, accepted for publication 26 February 2008

Published 27 March 2008



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