Loss of community identity in opinion dynamics models as a function of inter-group interaction strength

Abstract

Recent technological changes have increased connectivity between individuals around the world leading to higher frequency interactions between members of communities that would be otherwise distant and disconnected. This paper examines a model of opinion dynamics in interacting communities and studies how increasing interaction frequency affects the ability for communities to retain distinct identities versus falling into consensus or polarized states in which community identity is lost. We also study the effect (if any) of opinion noise related to a tendency for individuals to assert their individuality in homogenous populations. Our work builds on a model we developed previously [11] where the dynamics of opinion change is based on individual interactions that seek to minimize some energy potential based on the differences between opinions across the population.