Structure and Algorithms of the Agent-Based Model of Spreading the Norms and Values

Abstract

In this paper we present the agent-based model of spreading the norms and values. Structure of the model includes population, economy, education system, social media and state administration. The economy and education system form the social environment for the agent. The media provide information content that influences norms and values of the agents. State administration regulates this content and filter out undesirable norms and values. To maintain interactions of agents with their environment we propose the architecture that includes biological and social characteristics, socio-economic and political interests, norms end estimates. We divide agents into four clusters with different persuasion power and persuasion acceptance to the influence: Foxes (professional participants in socio-political processes), Wolves (ideological participants); Dogs (foundation of social movements with high persuasion acceptance) and Rabbits (neutral part of the population). We present two algorithms that simulate agents’ interactions and changes in their opinions: one-way influence of one agent on a number of others and two-way interaction in a pair of familiar agents. In the first algorithm, the agents get exposure to the influencers on Internet platforms. In the second algorithm agents contact with each other if they live in one household, study in educational institution and work in the same organization. In order to fill the model with the real-world data we use information presented on the website of the Federal State Statistics Service, the Ministry of Science and Higher Education and the portal of the budgetary system of the Russian Federation. The spread of norms and values among the population is simulated on the basis of data from the World Values Survey in Russia.