Opinion Dynamics Model Revealing Yet Undetected Cognitive Biases

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Abstract
This paper synthesises a recent research that includes opinion dynamics models and an experiment suggested by the model results. The mathematical analysis establishes that the model's emergent patterns derive from biases in self-evaluation and in evaluation of others that should appear in quite general conditions. The paper then focuses on the positive bias in self-evaluation identified in the model, which is shown to be different from the one identified by psychologists. It describes a specifically designed experiment that detects this yet unknown bias, in human subjects. The paper discusses the role of the model in this case, which is revealing phenomena that are almost impossible to imagine without its simulations.

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