Modeling belief systems with scale-free networks

Authors:
Miklós Antal;László Balogh
Affiliations:
Budapest University of Technology and Economics, Department of Environmental Economics, H-1111, Sztoczek u. 2, Budapest, Hungary;Budapest University of Technology and Economics, Department of Theoretical Physics, H-1111, Budafoki u. 8, Budapest, Hungary
Venue:
Neural Networks
Year:
2009

Citing 3
Cited 0

Parallel distributed processing: explorations in the microstructure of cognition, vol. 1: foundations

Parallel distributed processing: explorations in the microstructure of cognition, vol. 1: foundations
Associative engines: connectionism, concepts, and representational change

Associative engines: connectionism, concepts, and representational change
Neural Bases of Motivated Reasoning: An fMRI Study of Emotional Constraints on Partisan Political Judgment in the 2004 U.S. Presidential Election

Journal of Cognitive Neuroscience

Quantified Score

Hi-index	0.00

Visualization

Abstract

The evolution of belief systems has always been a focus of cognitive research. In this paper, we delineate a new model describing belief systems as a network of statements considered true. Testing the model with a small number of parameters enabled us to reproduce a variety of well-known mechanisms ranging from opinion changes to development of psychological problems. The self-organizing opinion structure showed a scale-free degree distribution. The novelty of our work lies in applying a convenient set of definitions allowing us to depict opinion network dynamics in a highly favorable way, which resulted in a scale-free belief network. As an additional benefit, we listed several conjectural consequences in a number of areas related to thinking and reasoning.