Dynamic Opinion Model and Invasion Percolation
Physical Review Letters, 103 (1):
018701+ (July 2009)DOI: 10.1103/physrevlett.103.018701
Abstract
We propose a ” nonconsensus” opinion model that allows for stable coexistence of two opinions by forming clusters of agents holding the same opinion. We study this nonconsensus model on lattices, several model complex networks, and a real-life social network. We find that the model displays a phase transition behavior characterized by a large spanning cluster of nodes holding the same opinion appearing when the concentration of nodes holding the same opinion (even minority) is above a certain threshold. Because of the clustering (community support) of agents holding the same opinion, these clusters cannot be invaded by the other opinion (similar to incompressible fluids). Our extensive simulations show that the nonconsensus opinion model appears to belong to the same universality class as invasion percolation.