Stochastic thermodynamics of opinion dynamics

Abstract

We show that models of opinion formation and dissemination in a community of individuals can be framed within stochastic thermodynamics from which we can build a nonequilibrium thermodynamics of opinion dynamics. This is accomplished by decomposing the original transition rate that defines an opinion model into two or more transition rates, each representing the contact with heat reservoirs at different temperatures, and postulating an energy function. As the temperatures are distinct, heat fluxes are present even at the stationary state and linked to the production of entropy, the fundamental quantity that characterizes nonequilibrium states. We apply the present framework to a generic-vote model including the majority-vote model in a square lattice and in a cubic lattice. The fluxes and the rate of entropy production are calculated by numerical simulation and by the use of a pair approximation.

References in corpus (6)

• Statistical physics of social dynamics
• Continuous Opinions and Discrete Actions in Opinion Dynamics Problems
• Stochastic approach to equilibrium and nonequilibrium thermodynamics
• Critical phenomena of the Majority voter model in a three dimensional cubic lattice
• Partial inertia induces additional phase transition in the explosive majority vote model
• Finite-Size Scaling of the majority-voter model above the upper critical dimension

Cited by in corpus (2)

• $N$-player game formulation of the majority-vote model of opinion dynamics
• Irreversibility in Non-reciprocal Chaotic Systems