Social network interventions to prevent reciprocity-driven polarization

Fernando P. Santos, Francisco C. Santos, Jorge M. Pacheco, Simon A. Levin

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingConference contribution

8 Scopus citations

Abstract

Complex networks and reputation systems are fundamental mechanisms to sustain cooperation in populations of self-regarding agents. These mechanisms are typically studied in isolation. In online social platforms, however, behavioral dynamics are likely to result from their combination. Here we investigate the relationship between social networks and reputation-based cooperation (in a Prisoner's Dilemma setting) in large populations. We develop a new evolutionary game-theoretical model and study dynamics in networks with varying degrees of community structure. We show that networks exhibiting modular structures hamper global cooperation: reputation-based group identities emerge in different communities and strategies that uniquely cooperate with in-group members fixate, sustaining polarization and group bias. Global cooperation is recovered provided that inter-community edges are added.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Title of host publication20th International Conference on Autonomous Agents and Multiagent Systems, AAMAS 2021
PublisherInternational Foundation for Autonomous Agents and Multiagent Systems (IFAAMAS)
Pages1631-1633
Number of pages3
ISBN (Electronic)9781713832621
StatePublished - 2021
Externally publishedYes
Event20th International Conference on Autonomous Agents and Multiagent Systems, AAMAS 2021 - Virtual, Online
Duration: May 3 2021May 7 2021

Publication series

NameProceedings of the International Joint Conference on Autonomous Agents and Multiagent Systems, AAMAS
Volume3
ISSN (Print)1548-8403
ISSN (Electronic)1558-2914

Conference

Conference20th International Conference on Autonomous Agents and Multiagent Systems, AAMAS 2021
CityVirtual, Online
Period5/3/215/7/21

All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes

  • Artificial Intelligence
  • Software
  • Control and Systems Engineering

Keywords

  • Complex networks
  • Cooperation
  • Evolutionary Game Theory
  • Indirect reciprocity
  • Polarization
  • Reputations
  • Social norms

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