The Role of Network Structure and Initial Group Norm Distributions in Norm Conflict

Bibliographic Data

ID20038022
AuthorsJulian Kohne (0000-0002-6710-7545, GESIS - Leibniz Institute for the Social Sciences), Natalie M Gallagher (0000-0001-8693-5066, Northwestern University), Natalie Gallagher, Z M Kirgil (0000-0003-2094-9996, University of Groningen), Rocco Paolillo (0000-0001-9816-5839, University of Bremen), Lars Padmos (University of Groningen), Fowzia Karimi (0000-0002-0037-2475, GESIS - Leibniz Institute for the Social Sciences), Fariba Karimi (0000-0002-2209-7590)
Year2020
Pages113-140
Publication date2020-01-01
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessYes
TypeCHAPTER
VenueComputational Conflict Research (SOURCE_BOOK)
PublisherSpringer International Publishing (PUBLISHER • SG)
DOI10.1007/978-3-030-29333-8_6
OpenAlexW2953747904
ISBN9783030293338
LanguageEN
Citations received2
References cited63

Social norms can facilitate societal coexistence in groups by providing an implicitly shared set of expectations and behavioral guidelines. However, different social groups can hold different norms, and lacking an overarching normative consensus can lead to conflict within and between groups. In this chapter, we present an agent-based model that simulates the adoption of norms in two interacting groups. We explore this phenomenon while varying relative group sizes and homophily/heterophily (two features of network structure), and initial group norm distributions. Agents update their norm according to an adapted version of Granovetter's threshold model, using a uniform distribution of thresholds. We study the impact of network structure and initial norm distributions on the process of achieving normative consensus and the resulting potential for intragroup and intergroup conflict. Our results show that norm change is most likely when norms are strongly tied to group membership. Groups end up with the most similar norm distributions when networks are heterophilic, with small to middling minority groups. High homophilic networks show high potential intergroup conflict and low potential intragroup conflict, while the opposite pattern emerges for high heterophilic networks

Group structure · Homophily · Normative · Political science · Social group · Complex Network Analysis Techniques · Evolutionary Game Theory and Cooperation · Mathematics · Opinion Dynamics and Social Influence · Psychology · Social Psychology

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