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Nonequilibrium phase transition in a model for social influence

Claudio Castellano·Matteo Marsili·Alessandro Vespignani
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Abstract

We present extensive numerical simulations of the Axelrod's model for social influence, aimed at understanding the formation of cultural domains. This is a nonequilibrium model with short range interactions and a remarkably rich dynamical behavior. We study the phase diagram of the model and uncover a nonequilibrium phase transition separating an ordered (culturally polarized) phase from a disordered (culturally fragmented) one. The nature of the phase transition can be continuous or discontinuous depending on the model parameters. At the transition, the size of cultural regions is power-law distributed.

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Claudio Castellano, Matteo Marsili, Alessandro Vespignani. 2000-03-07. Nonequilibrium phase transition in a model for social influence. https://doi.org/10.1103/physrevlett.85.3536

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