Rejection Mechanism in 2D Bounded Confidence Provides more Conformity

TL;DR

This paper introduces a rejection mechanism in a 2D bounded confidence model, leading to metastable clusters and a different growth pattern of clusters with respect to uncertainty, enhancing understanding of opinion dynamics.

Contribution

It proposes a novel rejection mechanism in a 2D bounded confidence model, revealing new cluster formation behaviors and growth patterns not seen in traditional models.

Findings

Metastable clusters emerge due to opposite influences.

Cluster number grows linearly with inverse uncertainty.

Growth pattern differs from traditional bounded confidence models.

Abstract

We add a rejection mechanism (negative influence) into a two-dimensions bounded confidence model. The principle is that one shifts aways from a close attitude of one's interlocutor, when there is a strong disagreement on the other attitude. The model shows metastable clusters, which maintain themselves through opposite influences of competitor clusters. Our analysis and first experiments support the hypothesis that the number of clusters grows linearly with the inverse of the uncertainty, whereas this growth is quadratic in the bounded confidence model.