Evolution of ethnocentrism on undirected and directed Barabasi-Albert networks

Authored by F. W. S. Lima, Tarik Hadzibeganovic, Dietrich Stauffer

Date Published: 2009-12-15

DOI: 10.1016/j.physa.2009.08.029

Sponsors: FAPEPI (Teresina-Piauí-Brasil)

Platforms: No platforms listed

Model Documentation: Other Narrative

Model Code URLs: Model code not found

Abstract

Using Monte Carlo simulations, we study the evolution of contingent cooperation and ethnocentrism in the one-shot game. Interactions and reproduction among computational agents are simulated on undirected and directed Barabasi-Albert (BA) networks. We first replicate the Hammond-Axelrod model of in-group favoritism on a square lattice and then generalize this model on undirected and directed BA networks for both asexual and sexual reproduction cases. Our simulations demonstrate that irrespective of the mode of reproduction, the ethnocentric strategy becomes common even though cooperation is individually costly and mechanisms such as reciprocity or conformity are absent. Moreover, our results indicate that the spread of favoritism towards similar others highly depends on the network topology and the associated heterogeneity of the studied population. (c) 2009 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Tags

Agent-based model Complex networks Ethnocentrism evolutionary model In-group favoritism Monte Carlo simulation