Related Experiment Video
Updated: Sep 10, 2025
06:42
Continuous Theta Burst Stimulation of the Posterior Medial Frontal Cortex to Experimentally Reduce Ideological Threat Responses
Published on: September 28, 2018
11.7K
Breaking coexistence: Zealotry vs nonlinear social impact
Christopher R Kitching1, Lucía S Ramirez2,3, Maxi San Miguel3
1Department of Physics and Astronomy, School of Natural Sciences, The University of Manchester, Manchester M13 9PL, United Kingdom.
Chaos (Woodbury, N.Y.)
|August 22, 2025
Summary
Zealotry can drive consensus in social models, but nonlinear social impact shapes outcomes. Sublinear impact hinders consensus by favoring minorities, while superlinear impact promotes it by favoring majorities.
Area of Science:
- Social dynamics
- Statistical physics
- Computational social science
Background:
- Consensus formation is a key aspect of social dynamics.
- Agent-based models are used to study opinion dynamics.
- Zealotry and social impact are critical factors influencing group behavior.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the effects of zealotry and nonlinear social impact on consensus formation.
- To analyze these effects across three distinct models: the nonlinear voter model, evolutionary games, and the partisan voter model.
- To determine the conditions under which consensus is achieved or prevented.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of the nonlinear voter model, evolutionary games, and the partisan voter model.
- Mathematical derivation of conditions for consensus stability.
- Exploration of dynamics in both infinite and finite populations.
- Investigation of time-to-consensus and quasi-stationary distributions.
Main Results:
- Sufficiently strong zealotry can drive infinite populations to consensus in all three models.
- The nonlinear voter model shows unique behavior compared to evolutionary games and the partisan voter model.
- The shape of the social impact function is crucial: sublinear impact favors minorities and can prevent consensus, while superlinear impact favors majorities and facilitates consensus.
- General conditions linking the social impact function's slope to consensus stability were derived.
Conclusions:
- Zealotry is a powerful driver of consensus, but its effectiveness is modulated by nonlinear social impact.
- The nature of social influence (majority vs. minority effects) dictates whether zealotry leads to consensus.
- Findings provide insights into the complex interplay of individual stubbornness and group influence in shaping collective opinion.
Related Concept Videos
01:01Group Polarization
35.4K
Group polarization is the strengthening of an original group attitude following the discussion of views within a group (Teger & Pruitt, 1967). That is, if a group initially favors a viewpoint, after discussion the group consensus is likely a stronger endorsement of the viewpoint. Conversely, if the group was initially opposed to a viewpoint, group discussion would likely lead to stronger opposition.
35.4K
01:31In- and Out-Groups
39.9K
People all belong to a gender, race, age, and social economic group. These groups provide a powerful source of our identity and self-esteem (Tajfel & Turner, 1979) and serve as our in-groups. An in-group is a group that we identify with or see ourselves as belonging to.
39.9K
01:14Agonism and Antagonism: Quantification
560
When drugs are administered, they can elicit either an agonist or antagonist effect on the body. Agonism occurs when a drug activates a specific receptor, triggering a biological response. On the other hand, antagonism happens when a drug binds to the same receptors but blocks their activation, thereby preventing a biological response.
To quantify these effects, researchers use a dose-response curve, which provides valuable information about the potency and efficacy of a drug. Potency refers to...
To quantify these effects, researchers use a dose-response curve, which provides valuable information about the potency and efficacy of a drug. Potency refers to...
560
01:34Groupthink
45.3K
When in group settings, we are often influenced by the thoughts, feelings, and behaviors around us. Groupthink is another phenomenon of conformity where modification of the opinions of members in a group aligns with what they believe is the group consensus (Janis, 1972). In such situations, the group often takes action that individuals would not perform outside the group setting because groups make more extreme decisions than individuals do. Moreover, groupthink can hinder opposing trains of...
45.3K
01:38Cognitive Dissonance
33.6K
Social psychologists have documented that feeling good about ourselves and maintaining positive self-esteem is a powerful motivator of human behavior (Tavris & Aronson, 2008). In the United States, members of the predominant culture typically think very highly of themselves and view themselves as good people who are above average on many desirable traits (Ehrlinger, Gilovich, & Ross, 2005). Often, our behavior, attitudes, and beliefs are affected when we experience a threat to our...
33.6K
01:30Types of Impact
652
Impacts can be classified in various forms, primarily under two subgroups: central impact and oblique impact. A central impact occurs when two objects collide head-on, possessing opposite velocities aligned along the line of impact. Conversely, an oblique impact occurs when two objects collide at an angle, resulting in a modification of both direction and velocity.
The coefficient of restitution is a metric for understanding the dynamics of impacts. It quantifies the ratio of relative velocity...
The coefficient of restitution is a metric for understanding the dynamics of impacts. It quantifies the ratio of relative velocity...
652