Projects per year
Abstract
What is the effect of the combined direct and indirect social influences-peer pressure (PP)-on a social group's collective decisions? We present a model that captures PP as a function of the socio-cultural distance between individuals in a social group. Using this model and empirical data from 15 real-world social networks we found that the PP level determines how fast a social group reaches consensus. More importantly, the levels of PP determine the leaders who can achieve full control of their social groups. PP can overcome barriers imposed upon a consensus by the existence of tightly connected communities with local leaders or the existence of leaders with poor cohesiveness of opinions. A moderate level of PP is also necessary to explain the rate at which innovations diffuse through a variety of social groups.
Original language | English |
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Article number | 2905 |
Number of pages | 6 |
Journal | Scientific Reports |
Volume | 3 |
DOIs | |
Publication status | Published - 9 Oct 2013 |
Keywords
- applied mathematics
- complex networks
- applied physics
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Dive into the research topics of 'How peer pressure shapes consensus, leadership, and innovations in social groups'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.Projects
- 1 Finished
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Mathematics of Large Technological Evolving Networks (MOLTEN)
Higham, D. (Principal Investigator) & Estrada, E. (Co-investigator)
EPSRC (Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council)
24/01/11 → 31/03/13
Project: Research