Analytical insights from a model of opinion formation based on persuasive argument theory

Abstract

In recent years, numerous mathematical models of opinion formation have been developed, in-corporating diverse interaction mechanisms such as imitation and majority rule. However, limitedattention has been given to models grounded in persuasive arguments theory (PAT), which describeshow individuals may alter their opinions through the exchange of arguments during discussions.Moreover, analytical investigations of PAT-based models remain sparse. In this study, we proposean analytical model rooted in PAT, demonstrating that a group of agents can exhibit two distinctcollective dynamics: quasi-consensus and bipolarization. Specifically, we explore various scenarioscharacterized by the number of arguments and the degree of homophily, revealing that bipolarizationarises within this framework only in the presence of homophily.