Modeling belief systems with scale-free networks

Miklos Antal; Laszlo Balogh

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arXiv · 0807.0517

Modeling belief systems with scale-free networks

Miklos Antal·Laszlo Balogh

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Abstract

Evolution of belief systems has always been in focus of cognitive research. In this paper we delineate a new model describing belief systems as a network of statements considered true. Testing the model a small number of parameters enabled us to reproduce a variety of well-known mechanisms ranging from opinion changes to development of psychological problems. The self-organizing opinion structure showed a scale-free degree distribution. The novelty of our work lies in applying a convenient set of definitions allowing us to depict opinion network dynamics in a highly favorable way, which resulted in a scale-free belief network. As an additional benefit, we listed several conjectural consequences in a number of areas related to thinking and reasoning.

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Miklos Antal, Laszlo Balogh. 2008-07-03. Modeling belief systems with scale-free networks. https://arxiv.org/abs/0807.0517

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