A Geometric Model of Opinion Polarization

• 成果类型: Article
• 署名作者: Hazla, Jan; Jin, Yan; Mossel, Elchanan; Ramnarayan, Govind
• 署名单位: Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT)
• 刊物名称: MATHEMATICS OF OPERATIONS RESEARCH
• ISSN/ISSBN: 0364-765X
• DOI: 10.1287/moor.2023.1355
• 发表日期: 2024
• 关键词: political polarization; biased assimilation; DYNAMICS; attitude; media; COMPETITION

摘要

We introduce a simple geometric model of opinion polarization. It is a model of political persuasion as well as marketing and advertising, utilizing social values. It focuses on the interplay between different topics and persuasion efforts. We demonstrate that societal opinion polarization often arises as an unintended by-product of influencers attempting to promote a product or idea. We discuss a number of mechanisms for the emergence of polarization involving one or more influencers, sending messages strategically, heuristically, or randomly. We also examine some computational aspects of choosing the most effective means of influencing agents and the effects of those strategic considerations on polarization.