Cultural diversity dynamics

Abstract

Abstract-In this work, we are exploring mechanisms that may contribute to cultural dynamics and cultural diversity. To this end, we are experimenting with an extended Axelrod model that uses a Moore neighborhood and heterogeneous sets of cultural features per agent. We are gradually introducing a number of psychologically realistic, basic and more advanced, conceptual models of cultural affinity perception and imitation and show that in many cases the population stabilizes to multi-cultural configurations. We also demonstrate the transitive advantage of two other mechanisms, attraction and spatial migration. In sum, our results show that a mix of initially differentially evolved or developed agents will not converge to monoculture, and that this is due to intrinsic psychological factors that are key players in behavioral change.

Constraints and effects of partner selection on the emergence of structures in social environments

“…We are using as basis an Axelrod model of cultural imitation [3][4][5] [6], where an agent is characterized by a number of cultural features, each one of which may take one of several values, called traits, and where an initially fully heterogeneous population (with random traits) may lead eventually to compact cultural groups that are homogeneous internally but with large differences between them, provided that a simple imitation process takes place: an agent may imitate (copy) a trait of a neighbor probabilistically based on the affinity with him (the proportion of traits that coincide). We have modified and extended this model with a Moore neighborhood, heterogeneous sets of cultural features per agent and a number of psychologically realistic, basic and more advanced, conceptual models of cultural affinity perception and imitation [7]. We have shown that in many cases the population stabilizes to multi-cultural configurations and that, in cases of population clashes where two or more culturally contiguous populations meet, the cultural divide may persist, albeit in a relatively weaker form [7] [8].…”

“…We have modified and extended this model with a Moore neighborhood, heterogeneous sets of cultural features per agent and a number of psychologically realistic, basic and more advanced, conceptual models of cultural affinity perception and imitation [7]. We have shown that in many cases the population stabilizes to multi-cultural configurations and that, in cases of population clashes where two or more culturally contiguous populations meet, the cultural divide may persist, albeit in a relatively weaker form [7] [8]. In this paper we repeat some of our previous experiments to investigate the effects of partner selection on these configurations.…”

“…First, we are briefly summarizing the extended models that we are using (for an in-depth account, see [7]). Our models have been inspired by the observation (also put forward by other authors, for instance [6]) that the original Axelrod result, where cultural grouping and polarization emerges in an initially diverse society, is a combined sideeffect of the model assumptions of 4-connectivity and fewer features than traits per feature.…”

“…It is this modeling intricacy that led us to reflect initially on the factors that may be responsible for the emergence of diverse cultural groups. some features may be absent and the computation of affinity uses only common features, indifferent models where agents have the full set of features but during affinity computation they may be indifferent to some of them, models with individualbased adaptation of the above feature vectors and others (see [7]). Some selfish models have been found to yield lower perceived than actual affinities, i.e.…”