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Two-dimensional opinion dynamics in social networks with conflicting beliefs

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Abstract

Two models are developed for updating opinions in social networks under situations where certain beliefs might be considered to be competing. These two models represent different attitudes of people towards the perceived conflict between beliefs. In both models agents have a degree of tolerance, which represents the extent to which the agent takes into account the differing beliefs of other agents, and a degree of conflict, which represents the extent to which two beliefs are considered to be competing. Computer simulations are used to determine how the opinion dynamics are affected by the inclusion of conflict. Results show that conflict can enhance the formation of consensus within the network in certain circumstances according to one of the models.

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Acknowledgements

This publication was made possible by a grant from the John Templeton Foundation (Grant No. 40676). The opinions expressed in this publication are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of the John Templeton Foundation. The first author has been partially supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant Nos. 61175055, 61305074 and 61673320).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Mathematics, Southwest Jiaotong University, Chengdu, 610031, China

    Shuwei Chen

  2. School of Computing and Mathematics, University of Ulster, Newtownabbey, Co., Antrim, BT37 0QB, UK

    Shuwei Chen, David H. Glass & Mark McCartney

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  1. Shuwei Chen
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  2. David H. Glass
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  3. Mark McCartney
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Correspondence to Shuwei Chen.

Additional information

This paper is an extended version of the paper that has been included in CEUR Proceedings of the European Conference on Social Intelligence (ECSI 2014), Barcelona, Spain, 3–5 November 2014.

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Chen, S., Glass, D.H. & McCartney, M. Two-dimensional opinion dynamics in social networks with conflicting beliefs. AI & Soc 34, 695–704 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00146-017-0784-6

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00146-017-0784-6

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