Influence of random opinion change in complex networks

TL;DR

This paper investigates how non-uniform probabilities of opinion change, reflecting varying loyalty levels, influence the final distribution of opinions in complex networks through simulation studies.

Contribution

It introduces the consideration of opinion loyalty heterogeneity into opinion dynamics models and analyzes its impact on final opinion states.

Findings

Non-uniform opinion change probabilities significantly affect final opinion distribution.

Different loyalty levels lead to asymmetric opinion dominance.

Simulation results highlight the importance of loyalty heterogeneity in opinion models.

Abstract

Opinion formation in the population has attracted extensive research interest. Various models have been introduced and studied, including the ones with individuals' free will allowing them to change their opinions. Such models, however, have not taken into account the fact that individuals with different opinions may have different levels of loyalty, and consequently, different probabilities of changing their opinions. In this work, we study on how the non-uniform distribution of the opinion changing probability may affect the final state of opinion distribution. By simulating a few different cases with different symmetric and asymmetric non-uniform patterns of opinion changing probabilities, we demonstrate the significant effects that the different loyalty levels of different opinions have on the final state of the opinion distribution.