Phase Transitions in Social Sciences: Two-populations Mean Field Theory

   Info_icon.svg       BibTeX_logo.svg   
Pierluigi Contucci, Ignacio Gallo, Giulia Menconi
International Journal of Modern Physics B 22(14), pages 2199–2212
10 June 2008

A new mean field statistical mechanics model of two interacting groups of spins is introduced and the phase transition studied in terms of their relative size. A jump of the average magnetization is found for large values of the mutual interaction when the relative percentage of the two populations crosses a critical threshold. It is shown how the critical percentage depends on internal interactions and on the initial magnetizations. The model is interpreted as a prototype of resident-immigrant cultural interaction and conclusions from the social sciences perspectives are drawn.

keywords   Statistical mechanics, social sciences
journal or series
Journal_icon.svg International Journal of Modern Physics B (IJMPB)