Consequences of nonconformist behaviors in a continuous opinion model

TL;DR

This paper explores how nonconformist behaviors, including independence and dissent, influence opinion dynamics in a kinetic exchange model, revealing conditions for the emergence of extreme opinions and phase transitions.

Contribution

It introduces a kinetic exchange model incorporating independence and dissent, analyzing their effects on opinion formation and phase transitions, which is a novel approach in continuous opinion models.

Findings

Nonconformity can lead to the emergence of extreme opinions.

Heterogeneity and nonconformity influence phase transition behavior.

The model identifies conditions for ordered and disordered opinion phases.

Abstract

We investigate opinion formation in a kinetic exchange opinion model, where opinions are represented by numbers in the real interval $[-1,1]$ and agents are typified by the individual degree of conviction about the opinion that they support. Opinions evolve through pairwise interactions governed by competitive positive and negative couplings, that promote imitation and dissent, respectively. The model contemplates also another type of nonconformity such that agents can occasionally choose their opinions independently of the interactions with other agents. The steady states of the model as a function of the parameters that describe conviction, dissent and independence are analyzed, with particular emphasis on the emergence of extreme opinions. Then, we characterize the possible ordered and disordered phases and the occurrence or suppression of phase transitions that arise spontaneously due to the disorder introduced by the heterogeneity of the agents and/or their interactions.