6533b853fe1ef96bd12ad498
RESEARCH PRODUCT
The Role Of Elites In The Diffusion Of Social Norms Of Humanitarianism
Erika FrydenlundJose J. PadillaKhadijeh SalimiHege WallevikHanne Haalandsubject
education.field_of_studyArtificial society05 social sciencesPopulation050602 political science & public administration050109 social psychology0501 psychology and cognitive sciencesNorm (social)SociologyPeer pressureeducation0506 political scienceLaw and economicsdescription
Certain social norms evolve without punishment as conventions that do not adversely affect society. In this paper, we depart from the notion that humanitarianism is one such social norm, where peer pressure may be the only type of punishment that encourages individuals to conform. Using an agent-based modeling approach, we examine the role that networked elites have in diffusing a non-punishment-enforced norm through an artificial society. The model considers norm advocates who promote a norm of humanitarianism, elites who have wide networks to spread the new norm, and general individuals who evaluate the norm pushed from elites and adopted by their peers. The study finds that, regardless of starting parameter values, the population converges into two groups: norm adopters and those who oppose the norm.
| year | journal | country | edition | language |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2019-04-01 | 2019 Spring Simulation Conference (SpringSim) |