Version 1
: Received: 6 November 2024 / Approved: 7 November 2024 / Online: 7 November 2024 (13:26:06 CET)
How to cite:
Wang, S.; Jager, W. Gaming Polarisation: Using Agent-Based Simulation as a Dialogue Tool. Preprints2024, 2024110519. https://doi.org/10.20944/preprints202411.0519.v1
Wang, S.; Jager, W. Gaming Polarisation: Using Agent-Based Simulation as a Dialogue Tool. Preprints 2024, 2024110519. https://doi.org/10.20944/preprints202411.0519.v1
Wang, S.; Jager, W. Gaming Polarisation: Using Agent-Based Simulation as a Dialogue Tool. Preprints2024, 2024110519. https://doi.org/10.20944/preprints202411.0519.v1
APA Style
Wang, S., & Jager, W. (2024). Gaming Polarisation: Using Agent-Based Simulation as a Dialogue Tool. Preprints. https://doi.org/10.20944/preprints202411.0519.v1
Chicago/Turabian Style
Wang, S. and Wander Jager. 2024 "Gaming Polarisation: Using Agent-Based Simulation as a Dialogue Tool" Preprints. https://doi.org/10.20944/preprints202411.0519.v1
Abstract
The transition to sustainable systems often faces significant challenges, with polarisation emerging as a critical obstacle due to divergent views on sustainability. Understanding the underlying drivers of polarisation and promoting inclusivity in decision-making processes is essential for fostering collective action. This study uses the agent-based HUMAT framework to develop a dialogue tool to explore the complexities of community opinion dynamics such as polarisation and potential pathways to reconciliation in divided communities. By simulating scenarios such as unsatisfied, divided, and reconciled communities, the tool provides key insights into how individual characteristics—such as assertiveness and openness to change—affect community cohesion, satisfaction, and collective decision-making outcomes. Moreover, the study examines intervention strategies that reduce polarisation, offering actionable pathways toward consensus. The visual representation of dynamics across different scenarios has the potential to engage stakeholders in the decision-making process, encouraging deeper reflection on community collaboration and participation. While limitations such as simplified assumptions and the lack of empirical calibration limit its predictive accuracy, the dialogue tool shows strong potential for both educational and policy applications. It offers valuable insights into social influences, conformity, and opinion dynamics, making it a promising tool for fostering inclusive, informed decision-making processes and enhancing community engagement in sustainability transitions.
Keywords
Social dynamics; Polarisation; HUMAT; Agent-based modelling; Dialogue tool; Sustainability transitions
Subject
Social Sciences, Psychology
Copyright:
This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.
