Author ORCID Identifier
0009-0009-5766-2076
DOI
10.22191/nejcs/vol6/iss1/7
Abstract
By contrasting Lévy flight and random walk strategies in simulated agents, we discern the effect of movement behavior on the total duration of social interactions. Our agent-based simulation results approximate empirically observed Dunbar social circle formation using simple behavioral rules of interaction and compatibility to mimic exogenous attribute-based friendship formation. We simulate the complexities of social interactions among agents with unique attributes and a time budget for social engagement over a one-year period. Two distinct simulations were conducted to evaluate the behavioral contributions of Lévy flight and random walk movement patterns on cumulative interaction duration and the formation of Dunbar circles. We test the hypothesis that Lévy Flight movement patterns would result in more total interaction time among agents, based on the premise that the unpredictable long-range moves would increase the chances of encountering a diverse range of individuals. Contrary to our initial hypothesis, simulation results show that random walk rules of motion resulted in greater total interaction and time spent among agents compared to Lévy flight.
Recommended Citation
Cooke, Christopher R. and Lutz, Cameron D.
(2024)
"Dunbar’s Number in Motion: Agent-Based Simulations of Friendship Formation,"
Northeast Journal of Complex Systems (NEJCS): Vol. 6
:
No.
1
, Article 7.
DOI: 10.22191/nejcs/vol6/iss1/7
Available at:
https://orb.binghamton.edu/nejcs/vol6/iss1/7
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