Multi Group Conflict Paths

Miron Kaufman; Sanda Kaufman; Hung T. Diep

doi:10.18278/jpcs.5.2.2

Multi Group Conflict Paths

Miron Kaufman, Sanda Kaufman, Hung T. Diep

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

Abstract

 We explore intractable social conflicts in various contexts where
 unexpected outcomes can be costly and/or violent. We extend a
 network model of two-group conflict dynamics to multiple groups.
 We study the time dependence of the groups’ mean attitudes, using
 mean-field theory. We incorporate contextual characteristics that
 alter the group dynamics. We find that in time, regardless of initial
 conditions, the paths followed by the groups’ mean attitudes converge
 to a multi-dimensional attractor. Small differences in initial
 conditions do not diminish or diverge exponentially over time, but
 instead generate stable oscillations. We offer examples for which
 the model could be used to construct scenarios of conflict paths in
 time and we examine how context changes might affect these paths
 and in-group attitudes. The scenarios can inform the strategies that
 groups might select to contend with each other.

Original language	American English
Journal	Journal on Policy and Complex Systems
Volume	5
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.18278/jpcs.5.2.2
State	Published - 2019

Keywords

social networks; social physics of conflicts; group cohesion; intra- and inter-group interactions; group decisions; collective behaviors

Disciplines

Physical Sciences and Mathematics
Social and Behavioral Sciences

Access to Document

10.18278/jpcs.5.2.2License: Unspecified

kaufman_et_al_JPCS_2019.pdfFinal published version, 394 KBLicense: Unspecified

Cite this

@article{2be192d4a69f4596949fc387405a8628,

title = "Multi Group Conflict Paths",

abstract = " We explore intractable social conflicts in various contexts where unexpected outcomes can be costly and/or violent. We extend a network model of two-group conflict dynamics to multiple groups. We study the time dependence of the groups{\textquoteright} mean attitudes, using mean-field theory. We incorporate contextual characteristics that alter the group dynamics. We find that in time, regardless of initial conditions, the paths followed by the groups{\textquoteright} mean attitudes converge to a multi-dimensional attractor. Small differences in initial conditions do not diminish or diverge exponentially over time, but instead generate stable oscillations. We offer examples for which the model could be used to construct scenarios of conflict paths in time and we examine how context changes might affect these paths and in-group attitudes. The scenarios can inform the strategies that groups might select to contend with each other.",

keywords = "social networks; social physics of conflicts; group cohesion; intra- and inter-group interactions; group decisions; collective behaviors",

author = "Miron Kaufman and Sanda Kaufman and Diep, \{Hung T.\}",

year = "2019",

doi = "10.18278/jpcs.5.2.2",

language = "American English",

volume = "5",

journal = "Journal on Policy and Complex Systems",

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T1 - Multi Group Conflict Paths

AU - Kaufman, Miron

AU - Kaufman, Sanda

AU - Diep, Hung T.

PY - 2019

Y1 - 2019

N2 - We explore intractable social conflicts in various contexts where unexpected outcomes can be costly and/or violent. We extend a network model of two-group conflict dynamics to multiple groups. We study the time dependence of the groups’ mean attitudes, using mean-field theory. We incorporate contextual characteristics that alter the group dynamics. We find that in time, regardless of initial conditions, the paths followed by the groups’ mean attitudes converge to a multi-dimensional attractor. Small differences in initial conditions do not diminish or diverge exponentially over time, but instead generate stable oscillations. We offer examples for which the model could be used to construct scenarios of conflict paths in time and we examine how context changes might affect these paths and in-group attitudes. The scenarios can inform the strategies that groups might select to contend with each other.

AB - We explore intractable social conflicts in various contexts where unexpected outcomes can be costly and/or violent. We extend a network model of two-group conflict dynamics to multiple groups. We study the time dependence of the groups’ mean attitudes, using mean-field theory. We incorporate contextual characteristics that alter the group dynamics. We find that in time, regardless of initial conditions, the paths followed by the groups’ mean attitudes converge to a multi-dimensional attractor. Small differences in initial conditions do not diminish or diverge exponentially over time, but instead generate stable oscillations. We offer examples for which the model could be used to construct scenarios of conflict paths in time and we examine how context changes might affect these paths and in-group attitudes. The scenarios can inform the strategies that groups might select to contend with each other.

KW - social networks; social physics of conflicts; group cohesion; intra- and inter-group interactions; group decisions; collective behaviors

U2 - 10.18278/jpcs.5.2.2

DO - 10.18278/jpcs.5.2.2

M3 - Article

VL - 5

JO - Journal on Policy and Complex Systems

JF - Journal on Policy and Complex Systems

ER -