Multidimensional Consensus model on a Barabasi-Albert network

Abstract

A Consensus Model according to Deffuant on a directed Barabasi-Albert network was simulated. Agents have opinions on different subjects. A multi-component subject vector was used. The opinions are discrete. The analysis regards distribution and clusters of agents which are on agreement in the opinions of the subjects. Remarkable results are on the one hand, that there mostly exists no absolute consens. It determines depending on the ratio of number of agents to the number of subjects, whether the communication ends in a consens or a pluralism. Mostly a second robust cluster remains, in its size depending on the number of subjects. Two agents agree either in (nearly) all or (nearly) no subject. The operative parameter of the consens-formating-process is the tolerance in change of views of the group-members.