Opinion dynamics as a movement in a bistable potential

Piotr Nyczka, Jerzy Cisło and Katarzyna Sznajd-Weron

Physica A: Statistical Mechanics and its Applications, 2012, vol. 391, issue 1, 317-327

Abstract: In this paper, we investigate the Sznajd model of opinion dynamics with anticonformity on a complete graph. We show that below some threshold value of anticonformal behavior spontaneous reorientations occur between two stable states. Dealing with a complete graph allows us also for an analytical treatment. We provide analytical calculations both for the infinite and finite systems. We show that opinion dynamics can be understood as a movement of a public opinion in a symmetric bistable effective potential. We focus also on the spontaneous transitions between stable states in the case of the finite system and show that a typical waiting time can be observed.

Keywords: Sznajd model; Opinion dynamics; Phase transitions; Stochastic resonance (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2012
References: View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (10)

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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:eee:phsmap:v:391:y:2012:i:1:p:317-327

DOI: 10.1016/j.physa.2011.07.050

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