Induced cultural globalization by an external vector field in an enhanced Axelrod model

TL;DR

This paper introduces a modified Axelrod model incorporating an external vector field to simulate mass media influence, revealing conditions for cultural globalization or diversification based on confidence levels.

Contribution

It presents a novel extension of Axelrod's model with an external vector field, analyzing its impact on cultural dissemination and identifying different behavioral regimes.

Findings

Monocultural globalization occurs above a confidence threshold.

Below the threshold, multicultural states become unstable.

Three distinct regimes of information spread are identified.

Abstract

A new model is proposed, in the context of Axelrod's model for the study of cultural dissemination, to include and external vector field (VF) which describes the effects of mass media on social systems. The VF acts over the whole system and it is characterized by two parameters: a non-null overlap with each agent in the society and a confidence value of its information. Beyond a threshold value of the confidence there is induced monocultural globalization of the system lined up with the VF. Below this value, the multicultural states are unstable and certain homogenization of the system is obtained in opposite line up according to that we have called {\it negative publicity} effect. Three regimes of behavior for the spread process of the VF information as a function of time are reported.