Dissemination Of Opinions And Ideas Via Complex Contagion On Social Networks
Abstract
By incorporating a model of cultural dynamics involving both mutable (cultural) and immutable features into a model of neighborhood segregation and social network formation, this research shows that under some conditions, diversity and social network clustering (modeling sense of community) need no longer be negatively correlated, as has been claimed. This implies that diversity on immutable human characteristics (such as race or ethnicity) does not have to undermine sense of community, so long as there is a sufficient variety of possible mutable (i.e. cultural) features which people can adopt and share. A model of the coevolution of culture and cooperation was developed based on the Axelrod model of cultural dissemination and a spatial public goods game (an extension of the well-known prisoners dilemma to more than two players). The results from this model suggest that cultural diversity can actually be beneficial for the survival of cooperation, but that cultural information needs to be transmitted accurately to maintain both coherent cultural groups and cooperation.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Sep 23, 2016
- Accession Number
- AD1022788
Entities
People
- Yoshihisa Kashima
Organizations
- University of Melbourne