When minor issues matter: symmetries, pluralism, and polarization in similarity-based opinion dynamics
Year: 2026
Type: preprint
Abstract: Understanding how opinions evolve through social interactions is crucial for mitigating polarization. Existing opinion-dynamics models incorporate both attractive and repulsive interactions but typically assume that all issues are equally important. We develop and analyze a stochastic agent-based model where issues carry heterogeneous weights that influence both social affinity and the likelihood of opinion change. Surprisingly, introducing even a single issue with arbitrarily small weight can destabilize otherwise stable states, increasing convergence times by orders of magnitude. To explain these dynamics, we derive a mean-field approach and characterize the equilibrium symmetries governing consensus, polarization, and persistent pluralism. A complete classification of these symmetries for up to five issues reveals that polarization increases when importance is concentrated on a small number of issues. Conversely, distributing importance more broadly across issues promotes diversity of opinions and reduces polarization. Our symmetry-based framework highlights how issue salience and social tolerance jointly shape collective opinion evolution.
Source: arXiv (Cornell University)
Language: English
Subfield: Statistical and Nonlinear Physics
Field: Physics and Astronomy
Domain: Physical Sciences
Open Access status: green
OpenAlex ID: W7134036434