An evidential opinion dynamics model based on heterogeneous social influential power

作者：Lu, Xi; Mo, Hongming; Deng, Yong^*

来源：Chaos Solitons & Fractals, 2015, 73: 98-107.

DOI：10.1016/j.chaos.2015.01.007

• STATISTICAL PHYSICS
• DECISION-MAKING
• NETWORKS
• EVOLUTION

This paper introduces an evidential opinion dynamics model combing Dempster-Shafer evidence theory to explore the opinion evolution. Our model is an improvement of the Continuous Opinions and Discrete Actions (CODA) model. The process of people updating their opinions is regarded as a decision making process. The unavoidable uncertainty of the opinion evolution is handled by Dempster-Shafer evidence theory. Thereby, a new opinion group, i.e.the neutrals, is introduced into the system. Simulations show the neutral group plays a significant part in the opinion evolution. An opinion ice-breaking process at the early stage of the opinion evolution is observed. It is found that the consensus is not always reached then clusters emerge instead, which depends on the proportions of supporters, neutrals and opponents. The individual's influential power is taken into account. With the positive feedback mechanism of people's influential power, the obtained results are in accordance with people's daily cognition such as the Authority Effect and the Matthew Effect. The final influential power distribution of all individuals in our model presents power-law characteristic.

• 出版日期2015-4
• 单位四川民族学院; 西南大学