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Switching from a continuous to a discontinuous phase transition under quenched disorder
Bartłomiej Nowak1, Katarzyna Sznajd-Weron1
1Department of Theoretical Physics, Wrocław University of Science and Technology, 50-370 Wrocław, Poland.
Static disorder can induce discontinuous phase transitions in social systems, contrary to previous findings. This research explores how personality-based disorder, unlike situation-based disorder, can lead to abrupt social changes.
Area of Science:
- Complex Systems
- Social Dynamics
- Statistical Physics
Background:
- Discontinuous phase transitions are crucial for understanding social phenomena like hysteresis and critical mass.
- Existing research suggests static disorder typically weakens or eliminates discontinuous transitions in complex systems.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate if static disorder can induce discontinuous phase transitions, challenging the established understanding.
- To explore the impact of personality-based disorder versus situation-based disorder on social dynamics.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of a multistate q-voter model incorporating conformity and anticonformity.
- Analytical derivations and Monte Carlo simulations to validate findings.
Main Results:
- Demonstrated that replacing time-varying disorder with static disorder can shift a continuous to a discontinuous phase transition.
- Confirmed that static, personality-based disorder can indeed induce discontinuous phase transitions.
Conclusions:
- Static disorder, contrary to prior research, can promote discontinuous phase transitions in social systems.
- The findings offer new insights into the role of individual traits (personality-based disorder) in collective behavior.
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