Controlled Social Network Adaptation: Subjective Elements in an Objective Social World

Abstract

In this paper, the role of subjective elements and control in social network adaptation is analyzed computationally. In particular, it is analyzed: (1) how the coevolution of social contagion and bonding by homophily may be controlled by the persons involved, and (2) how subjective representation states (e.g., what they know) can play a role in this coevolution and its control. To address this, a second-order adaptive social network model is presented in which persons do have a form of control over the coevolution process, and in relation to this, their bonding depends on their subjective representation states about themselves and about each other, and social contagion depends on their subjective representation states about their connections.

Taking Control of Your Bonding: Controlled Social Network Adaptation Using Mental Models

“…In this chapter, a computational analysis was made of the role of subjective elements and control in social network adaptation. Part of the content is based on (Treur 2021). It was analysed: (1) how the coevolution of social contagion and bonding by homophily may be controlled by the persons involved, and (2) how subjective representation states (e.g., what they know about themselves and each other and about their connections) can play a role in this coevolution and its control.…”

Dynamics, Adaptation and Control for Mental Models: A Cognitive Architecture

“…If two persons both have a mental model of themselves and the other that show that they are alike, then that will clearly affect their bonding, even if these mental models are not correct and, for example, based on fake information. This subjective mental model based perspective on bonding by homophily is addressed in Treur (2021b); see also Treur and Van Ments (2022, Chap. 13), (this volume), which also includes an example scenario where one of the persons on purpose fakes incorrect personal characteristics or properties in order to make bonding happen.…”

Dynamics, Adaptation, and Control for Mental Models Analysed from a Self-modeling Network Viewpoint

“…Choosing a mental model to be applied. For example, a decision to use a specific metaphor-based mental model as in the model in (Van Ments and Treur 2021b) or a decision to use a geometric mental model to support learning of an arithmetic mental model, as described in Opening a communication channel from an information source to enable instructional learning of a mental model (decision to ask), as in the model in (Bhalwankar and Treur 2021b) and in the model described in (Treur 2021b) Opening an observation channel to enable observational learning of a mental model (decision to observe), as in the model described in (Treur 2021b) -Adaptive connections of the causal pathways from the self-model states to other states and their weights ω; for example:…”