DEGROOT SOCIAL NORMS

xi(t+1) = α·xi(t) + (1−α)·avgneighbors(t) + σ·εi(t)

Simulation

Speed (steps/frame)5
Population N300
Neighbors k6

Parameters

Self-weight α 0.50
Noise σ 0.00
Presets
Contracting
Steady-state σ²_∞ ≈ σ²/(1−α²)
Convergence rate ≈ α·|λ₂(W)|

Opinion color

00.51
Blue = 0 (norm A)
Red = 1 (norm B)

Theory

Banach Fixed Point: if α < 1 and σ=0, the map is a contraction — opinions converge to a unique fixed point regardless of initial conditions.

Random walk: α=1 removes the restoring force. Noise drives opinions on an unbounded random walk — no social law emerges.

Noisy norm: the middle ground. Variance stabilizes at σ²/(1−α²), a finite steady state — a statistical social law.

Opinion distribution over time (each column = one timestep)

Census

0
Step
Agents
Mean x
Variance
Min x
Max x

Mean opinion over time

Variance over time

Opinion histogram current step