3.13 Forces Describing Opinion Formation and Other Behaviors
51
the acceleration) can be modeled by a sum of forces. But can we also understand how
people form opinions or other behavioral changes based on social forces? Surprisingly, the answer is “yes”, if the changes in opinion are more or less gradual on a
continuous opinion scale or in a continuous opinion space.
49 Otherwise, generalized
models would have to be used, which exist as well.
50
After formulating the social force model for pedestrians in Göttingen, Germany, in
1990, I joined the team of Professor Wolfgang Weidlich (1931–2015) at the University of Stuttgart, Germany. He was probably the only physicists working on socioeconomic modeling at that time. So, Professor Weidlich might be seen as grandfather
of sociophysics.
51 When I joined his team, my plan at this time was to learn how to
model opinion formation and decision-making. Since my work on pedestrians, I had
the idea that both individual and collective human behavior could be understood as a
result of social forces, and I formulated a corresponding theory (see Appendix 3.2).
Interestingly, it is possible to develop social force models for migration, too, if
one assumes that people relocate within a certain (not too large) geographic range. A
model that I formulated in 2009 examines “success-driven migration”.
52 According
to this, individuals try to avoid locations where they expect bad outcomes and are
attracted to locations that appear to be favorable. Bad neighborhoods (in which
people were uncooperative) were found to have a repulsive effect, whereas good
neighborhoods (where people were cooperative) attracted migrants. It is even possible
to calculate the direction and strength of this repulsion and attraction effects, i.e. the
forces which imply the average direction and speed of motion in a certain location.
In general, a great advantage of using the concept of “social forces” is that it
can help us to develop a better idea of the complex processes underlying social
change. Movements towards a subject or object are reflected by attractive forces,
while movements away from a subject or object are reflected by repulsive forces. It
is also important to recognize that such forces may not be attributable to individuals,
but rather to groups of individuals, companies or institutions. In other words, social
forces may be a collective effect. Group dynamics or “group think”, as a result of
the emergence of a particular group identity is probably a good example for this.
Here, a collective “group” perspective emerges from the interactions of individuals,
which in turn changes their characteristic opinions and behaviors. In fact, the theory
of social milieus posits that the behavior of individuals is largely influenced by their
social environment (Helbing et al. [40]). Very soon, it will be possible to quantify the
underlying forces and to derive mathematical formulas for them. But what is more
powerful, physical or social forces?
49 Helbing [35].
50 Helbing [36].
51 Weidlich [37].
52 Helbing [38], Helbing and Yu [39].
51
the acceleration) can be modeled by a sum of forces. But can we also understand how
people form opinions or other behavioral changes based on social forces? Surprisingly, the answer is “yes”, if the changes in opinion are more or less gradual on a
continuous opinion scale or in a continuous opinion space.
49 Otherwise, generalized
models would have to be used, which exist as well.
50
After formulating the social force model for pedestrians in Göttingen, Germany, in
1990, I joined the team of Professor Wolfgang Weidlich (1931–2015) at the University of Stuttgart, Germany. He was probably the only physicists working on socioeconomic modeling at that time. So, Professor Weidlich might be seen as grandfather
of sociophysics.
51 When I joined his team, my plan at this time was to learn how to
model opinion formation and decision-making. Since my work on pedestrians, I had
the idea that both individual and collective human behavior could be understood as a
result of social forces, and I formulated a corresponding theory (see Appendix 3.2).
Interestingly, it is possible to develop social force models for migration, too, if
one assumes that people relocate within a certain (not too large) geographic range. A
model that I formulated in 2009 examines “success-driven migration”.
52 According
to this, individuals try to avoid locations where they expect bad outcomes and are
attracted to locations that appear to be favorable. Bad neighborhoods (in which
people were uncooperative) were found to have a repulsive effect, whereas good
neighborhoods (where people were cooperative) attracted migrants. It is even possible
to calculate the direction and strength of this repulsion and attraction effects, i.e. the
forces which imply the average direction and speed of motion in a certain location.
In general, a great advantage of using the concept of “social forces” is that it
can help us to develop a better idea of the complex processes underlying social
change. Movements towards a subject or object are reflected by attractive forces,
while movements away from a subject or object are reflected by repulsive forces. It
is also important to recognize that such forces may not be attributable to individuals,
but rather to groups of individuals, companies or institutions. In other words, social
forces may be a collective effect. Group dynamics or “group think”, as a result of
the emergence of a particular group identity is probably a good example for this.
Here, a collective “group” perspective emerges from the interactions of individuals,
which in turn changes their characteristic opinions and behaviors. In fact, the theory
of social milieus posits that the behavior of individuals is largely influenced by their
social environment (Helbing et al. [40]). Very soon, it will be possible to quantify the
underlying forces and to derive mathematical formulas for them. But what is more
powerful, physical or social forces?
49 Helbing [35].
50 Helbing [36].
51 Weidlich [37].
52 Helbing [38], Helbing and Yu [39].