title: Nonconservative kinetic exchange model of opinion dynamics with randomness and bounded confidence.
abstract: The concept of a bounded confidence level is incorporated in a nonconservative kinetic exchange model of opinion dynamics model where opinions have continuous values ∈[-1,1]. The characteristics of the unrestricted model, which has one parameter λ representing conviction, undergo drastic changes with the introduction of bounded confidence parametrized by δ. Three distinct regions are identified in the phase diagram in the δ-λ plane and the evidences of a first order phase transition for δ ≥ 0.3 are presented. A neutral state with all opinions equal to zero occurs for λ ≤ λ(c1) ≃ 2/3, independent of δ, while for λ(c(1)) ≤ λ ≤ λ(c(2))(δ), an ordered region is seen to exist where opinions of only one sign prevail. At λ(c(2))(δ), a transition to a disordered state is observed, where individual opinions of both signs coexist and move closer to the extreme values (±1) as λ is increased. For confidence level δ < 0.3, the ordered phase exists for a narrow range of λ only. The line δ = 0 is apparently a line of discontinuity, and this limit is discussed in some detail.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physics, University of Calcutta, 92 Acharya Prafulla Chandra Road, Kolkata 700009, India. psphy@caluniv.ac.in
authors.forename: Parongama
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Sen
mesh_terms: D001290:Attitude; D003198:Computer Simulation; D016001:Confidence Intervals; D003299:Cooperative Behavior; D003657:Decision Making; D015233:Models, Statistical