Exploring cognitive inertia in opinion dynamics using an activity-driven model

Samana Pranesh and Sayan Gupta

Chaos, Solitons & Fractals, 2025, vol. 191, issue C

Abstract: The advent of social media platforms has revolutionized information consumption patterns, with individuals frequently engaging in these platforms for social interactions. This trend has fostered an environment where people gravitate towards information that aligns with their preconceived notions, leading to the formation of echo chambers and polarization within the society. Recently introduced activity-driven models have been successful in capturing the dynamics of information propagation and polarization. The present study uses this model to explore cognitive inertia, which captures the tendency of individuals to maintain (positive) or shift away (negative) from their prior beliefs. In the case of positive cognitive inertia, individuals are more likely to maintain their current beliefs, becoming resistant to external influences and reinforcing polarization. In contrast, negative cognitive inertia reflects a tendency to move away from prior opinions, promoting the reconsideration or rejection of previously held views. A supercritical pitchfork bifurcation is observed, triggering a transition from polarization to consensus. The transition points from polarization to consensus are derived analytically and is validated through numerical simulations.

Keywords: Opinion dynamics; Polarization; Supercritical pitchfork bifurcation; Social media (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2025
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:eee:chsofr:v:191:y:2025:i:c:s0960077924014310

DOI: 10.1016/j.chaos.2024.115879

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