Quantum Mechanics of Human Perception, Behaviour and Decision-Making: A Do-It-Yourself Model Kit for Modelling Optical Illusions and Opinion Formation in Social Networks

TL;DR

This paper explores the application of quantum mechanics principles to model human perception, behavior, and decision-making, providing a simple computational toolkit for researchers to simulate optical illusions and opinion formation in social networks.

Contribution

It introduces a user-friendly, modifiable quantum-inspired modeling framework for understanding perception and social dynamics, bridging physics and behavioral science.

Findings

Quantum models can explain optical illusions and opinion dynamics.

The DIY computational code enables easy customization for various scenarios.

Quantum-inspired approaches reveal differences between individual and group behaviors.

Abstract

On the surface, behavioural science and physics seem to be two disparate fields of research. However, a closer examination of problems solved by them reveals that they are uniquely related to one another. Exemplified by the theories of quantum mind, cognition and decision-making, this unique relationship serves as the topic of this chapter. Surveying the current academic journal papers and scholarly monographs, we present an alternative vision of the role of quantum mechanics in the modern studies of human perception, behaviour and decision-making. To that end, we mostly aim to answer the 'how' question, deliberately avoiding complex mathematical concepts but developing a technically simple computational code that the readers can modify to design their own quantum-inspired models. We also present several practical examples of the application of the computation code and outline several plausible scenarios, where quantum models based on the proposed do-it-yourself model kit can help understand the differences between the behaviour of individuals and social groups.