A broken duet: multistable dynamics of dyadic interactions

TL;DR

This paper models misunderstandings in dyadic interactions using a multistable dynamical system, revealing how differing prior beliefs lead to persistent divergent interpretations and highlighting the importance of generative models in mutual understanding.

Contribution

It introduces a novel application of the broken Lorenz system to simulate multistable dynamics in dyadic communication, emphasizing the role of prior beliefs in misunderstandings.

Findings

Divergent prior beliefs cause stable, divergent states of understanding.

Native speakers with overconfident priors struggle with unexpected inputs.

Non-native speakers with less confident priors adapt more easily.

Abstract

Misunderstandings in dyadic interactions often persist despite our best efforts, particularly between native and non-native speakers, resembling a broken duet that refuses to harmonise. This paper delves into the computational mechanisms underpinning these misunderstandings through the lens of the broken Lorenz system -- a continuous dynamical model. By manipulating a specific parameter regime, we induce bistability within the Lorenz equations, thereby confining trajectories to distinct attractors based on initial conditions. This mirrors the persistence of divergent interpretations that often result in misunderstandings. Our simulations reveal that differing prior beliefs between interlocutors result in misaligned generative models, leading to stable yet divergent states of understanding when exposed to the same percept. Specifically, native speakers equipped with precise (i.e., overconfident) priors expect inputs to align closely with their internal models, thus struggling with unexpected variations. Conversely, non-native speakers with imprecise (i.e., less confident) priors exhibit a greater capacity to adjust and accommodate unforeseen inputs. Our results underscore the important role of generative models in facilitating mutual understanding (i.e., establishing a shared narrative) and highlight the necessity of accounting for multistable dynamics in dyadic interactions.