2000/04/03 by Janusz A. Holyst, Krzysztof Kacperski, Frank Schweitzer · 1 citation
Physics and Astronomy · #cond-mat.stat-mech #nlin.CG
paper · pdf · doi:10.1016/s0378-4371(00)00282-x
15 pages, 4 figures, submitted for publication in Physica A
arxiv created 2000/04/03 · arxiv updated 2009/11/30
We study phase transitions in models of opinion formation which are based on the social impact theory. Two different models are discussed: (i) a cellular--automata based model of a finite group with a strong leader where persons can change their opinions but not their spatial positions, and (ii) a model with persons treated as active Brownian particles interacting via a communication field. In the first model, two stable phases are possible: a cluster around the leader, and a state of social unification. The transition into the second state occurs for a large leader strength and/or for a high level of social noise. In the second model, we find three stable phases, which correspond either to a ``paramagnetic'' phase (for high noise and strong diffusion), a ``ferromagnetic'' phase (for small nose and weak diffusion), or a phase with spatially separated ``domains'' (for intermediate conditions).