Interacting Social Processes on Interconnected Networks

FEDERICO VAZQUEZ; CRISTIAN E. LA ROCCA; LIDIA A. BRAUNSTEIN; LUCILA ALVAREZ ZUZEK

Boston

Congreso; COMPLENET 2018; 2018

Northeastern University

We propose and study a model for the interplay between two different dynamical processes --one for opinion formation and the other for decision making-- on two interconnected networks A and B. The opinion dynamics on network A corresponds to that of the M-model, where the state of each agent can take one of four possible values (S=−2,−1,1,2), describing its level of agreement on a given issue. The likelihood to become an extremist (S=±2) or a moderate (S=±1) is controlled by a reinforcement parameter r≥0. The decision making dynamics on network B is akin to that of the Abrams-Strogatz model, where agents can be either in favor (S=+1) or against (S=−1) the issue. The probability that an agent changes its state is proportional to the fraction of neighbors that hold the opposite state raised to a power β. Starting from a polarized case scenario in which all agents of network A hold positive orientations while all agents of network B have a negative orientation, we explore the conditions under which one of the dynamics prevails over the other, imposing its initial orientation. We find that, for a given value of β, the two-network system reaches a consensus in the positive state (initial state of network A) when the reinforcement overcomes a crossover value r∗(β), while a negative consensus happens for r