Can a few fanatics influence the opinion of a large segment of a society?

DOI10.1140/EPJB/E2007-00106-7zbMATH Open1189.91185arXivphysics/0506154OpenAlexW2224870114MaRDI QIDQ978801FDOQ978801

Authors: J. Martínez 

Publication date: 25 June 2010

Published in: The European Physical Journal B. Condensed Matter and Complex Systems (Search for Journal in Brave)

Abstract: Models that provide insight into how extreme positions regarding any social phenomenon may spread in a society or at the global scale are of great current interest. A realistic model must account for the fact that globalization and internet have given rise to scale-free networks of interactions between people. We propose a novel model which takes into account the nature of the interactions network, and provides some key insights into this phenomenon, including: (1) There is a fundamental difference between a hierarchical network whereby people are influenced by those that are higher on the hierarchy but not by those below them, and a symmetrical network where person-on-person influence works mutually. (2) A few "fanatics" can influence a large fraction of the population either temporarily (in the hierarchical networks) or permanently (in symmetrical networks). Even if the "fanatics" disappear, the population may still remain susceptible to the positions advocated by them. The model is, however, general and applicable to any phenomenon for which there is a degree of enthusiasm or susceptibility to in the population.

Full work available at URL: https://arxiv.org/abs/physics/0506154

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Mathematics Subject Classification ID

Social networks; opinion dynamics (91D30) Applications of statistical and quantum mechanics to economics (econophysics) (91B80) Time-dependent statistical mechanics (dynamic and nonequilibrium) (82C99)

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Cited In (8)

• Epidemic models with discrete state structures
• Multistate dynamical processes on networks: analysis through degree-based approximation frameworks
• Competition of dynamic self-confidence and inhomogeneous individual influence in voter models
• The mechanics of contentious politics: an agent-based modeling approach
• Role of inflexible minorities in the evolution of alcohol consumption
• Modeling the evolution of drinking behavior: a statistical physics perspective
• Correlation between information diffusion and opinion evolution on social media
• DYNAMICS OF NETWORKS AND OPINIONS

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