Endogenous dynamics of denunciation: Evidence from an inquisitorial trial

José Estévez, Davor Salihović and Stoyan Sgourev
Additional contact information
José Estévez: TKK - TKK Helsinki University of Technology
Davor Salihović: UA - University of Antwerp
Stoyan Sgourev: Métis Lab EM Normandie - EM Normandie - École de Management de Normandie = EM Normandie Business School

Post-Print from HAL

Abstract: We develop an endogenous approach to the practice of denunciation, as an alternative to exogenous historical and sociological accounts. It analyzes denunciation as a response to increasing pressure, which in turn increases pressure on social contacts. The research context is the trial of Waldensians in Giaveno, Italy, in 1335, headed by the inquisitor Alberto de Castellario. A dynamic network actor model attests that coercive pressure not only raises the rate of denunciation but also compels denouncers to implicate individuals who are socially closer to them. We find that coercive pressure starts yielding diminishing returns relatively quickly, with the degree of redundancy of information escalating as a result of preferential attachment, increasingly targeting those already denounced by others, publicly announced suspects, and those having absconded from the trial.

Keywords: Denunciation; Inquisition; Endogenous dynamics; Social control; Social networks; denunciation Inquisition endogenous dynamics social control social networks; denunciation; endogenous dynamics; social control; social networks (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2024-09-02
Note: View the original document on HAL open archive server: https://hal.science/hal-04920928v1
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations:

Published in PNAS Nexus, 2024, 3 (9), pp.340. ⟨10.1093/pnasnexus/pgae340⟩

Downloads: (external link)
https://hal.science/hal-04920928v1/document (application/pdf)

Related works:
This item may be available elsewhere in EconPapers: Search for items with the same title.

Export reference: BibTeX RIS (EndNote, ProCite, RefMan) HTML/Text

Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:hal:journl:hal-04920928

DOI: 10.1093/pnasnexus/pgae340

Access Statistics for this paper

More papers in Post-Print from HAL
Bibliographic data for series maintained by CCSD ().