Regensburg 2025 – scientific programme
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SOE: Fachverband Physik sozio-ökonomischer Systeme
SOE 4: Urban systems, Scaling, and Social Systems
SOE 4.8: Talk
Tuesday, March 18, 2025, 11:45–12:00, H45
Phase Transitions in Socially Balanced Systems: Why More Interactions Drive Polarization — •Markus Hofer1,2, Jan Korbel1,2, Rudolf Hanel1,2, and Stefan Thurner1,2,3 — 1Medical University of Vienna, Center for Medical Data Science, Institute of the Science of Complex Systems, Spitalgasse 23, 1090, Vienna, Austria — 2Complexity Science Hub Vienna, Metternichgasse 8, 1030, Vienna, Austria — 3Santa Fe Institute, 1399 Hyde Park Rd, Santa Fe, NM 87501, USA
Survey data show massive evidence that the average number of close social connections has increased over the past two decades. At the same time opinions in societies are becoming increasingly divided. To understand if these phenomena are related, we use a multidimensional spin model [1] that has been experimentally shown [2] to be realistic both in terms of homophily and social balance. Within the model individuals interact dyadically yet realistic triad statistics as expected from social balance theory emerges naturally. We find a phase transition where at a critical connectivity of the underlying social network a rapid transition from practically no to strong polarization occurs. By understanding how increased social connectivity necessarily leads to polarization we discuss strategies to mitigate polarization in highly connected societies.
[1] T. M. Pham, J. Korbel, R. Hanel, and S. Thurner, Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences 119, e2121103119 (2022).
[2] M. Galesic, H. Olsson, T. Pham, J. Sorger, and S. Thurner, OSF Preprints 10.31219/osf.io/3bmg7 (2023).
Keywords: Social Balance Theory; Opinon Polarization; Group Formation; Spin Model