Loss of community identity in opinion dynamics models as a function of inter-group interaction strength

TL;DR

This paper investigates how increasing inter-group interactions influence the preservation of community identities in opinion dynamics models, considering the effects of opinion noise and connectivity on consensus and polarization.

Contribution

It introduces an analysis of community identity loss as a function of interaction strength and opinion noise within a previously developed energy-based opinion dynamics model.

Findings

Higher interaction strength leads to loss of community identity.

Opinion noise can either preserve or disrupt community distinctions.

Increased connectivity promotes consensus or polarization, reducing community diversity.

Abstract

Recent technological changes have increased connectivity between individuals around the world leading to higher frequency interactions between members of communities that would be otherwise distant and disconnected. This paper examines a model of opinion dynamics in interacting communities and studies how increasing interaction frequency affects the ability for communities to retain distinct identities versus falling into consensus or polarized states in which community identity is lost. We also study the effect (if any) of opinion noise related to a tendency for individuals to assert their individuality in homogenous populations. Our work builds on a model we developed previously [11] where the dynamics of opinion change is based on individual interactions that seek to minimize some energy potential based on the differences between opinions across the population.