Opinion formation in kinetic exchange models: spontaneous symmetry-breaking transition

Abstract

We propose a minimal multiagent model for the collective dynamics of opinion formation in the society by modifying kinetic exchange dynamics studied in the context of income, money, or wealth distributions in a society. This model has an intriguing spontaneous symmetry-breaking transition to polarized opinion state starting from nonpolarized opinion state. In order to analyze the model, we introduce an iterative map version of the model, which has very similar statistical characteristics. An approximate theoretical analysis of the numerical results is also given, based on the iterative map version.