The dynamic consequences of cooperation and competition in small-world networks

PLoS One. 2015 Apr 30;10(4):e0126234. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0126234. eCollection 2015.

Abstract

We present a study of the social dynamics among cooperative and competitive actors interacting on a complex network that has a small-world topology. In this model, the state of each actor depends on its previous state in time, its inertia to change, and the influence of its neighboring actors. Using numerical simulations, we determine how the distribution of final states of the actors and measures of the distances between the values of the actors at local and global levels, depend on the number of cooperative to competitive actors and the connectivity of the actors in the network. We find that similar numbers of cooperative and competitive actors yield the lowest values for the local and global measures of the distances between the values of the actors. On the other hand, when the number of either cooperative or competitive actors dominate the system, then the divergence is largest between the values of the actors. Our findings make new testable predictions on how the dynamics of a conflict depends on the strategies chosen by groups of actors and also have implications for the evolution of behaviors.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Algorithms
  • Biological Evolution
  • Competitive Behavior*
  • Cooperative Behavior*
  • Game Theory
  • Humans
  • Interpersonal Relations

Grants and funding

This work was partially supported by programs EDI and COFAA from Instituto Politécnico Nacional and Consejo Nacional de Ciencia y Tenología, México. The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.