Discrete simulation of the dynamics of spread of extreme opinions in a society

Dietrich Stauffer and Muhammad Sahimi

Physica A: Statistical Mechanics and its Applications, 2006, vol. 364, issue C, 537-543

Abstract: We propose a discrete model for how opinions about a given “extreme” subject, about which various groups of a population have different degrees of enthusiasm for or susceptibility to, such as fanaticism, extreme social and political positions, and terrorism, may spread. The model, in a certain limit, is the discrete analogue of a deterministic continuum model suggested by others. We carry out extensive computer simulation of the model by utilizing it on lattices with infinite- or short-range interactions, and on symmetric and hierarchical (or directed) Barabási–Albert scale-free networks. Several interesting features of the model are demonstrated, and comparison is made with the deterministic continuum model.

Keywords: Terrorism; Agents; Lattices; Scale-free networks (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2006
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Citations: View citations in EconPapers (3)

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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:eee:phsmap:v:364:y:2006:i:c:p:537-543

DOI: 10.1016/j.physa.2005.08.040

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