Nonequilibrium transition induced by mass media in a
model for social infuence
Autores: J.C. González-Avella, M.G. Cosenza, K. Tucci
Referencia: Physical Review E (Rapid Communications), 71, 065102(r), (2005)
Abstract
We study the effect of mass media, modeled as an applied
external field, on a social system based on Axelrod's model
for the dissemination of culture. The numerical simulations
show that the system undergoes a nonequilibrium phase
transition between an ordered phase (homogeneous culture)
specified by the mass media and a disordered (culturally
fragmented) one. The critical boundary separating these
phases is calculated on the parameter space of the system,
given by the intensity of the mass media influence and the
number of options per cultural attribute. Counterintuitively,
mass media can induce cultural diversity when its intensity
is above some threshold value. The nature of the phase
transition changes from continuous to discontinuous at some
critical value of the number of options.
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