PSYC 121 Exam 3 - Computational Social Psych

Computational Social Psychology (CSP)

Uses computational models + data to study how social behavior emerges

Complex Adaptive System

A system where many interacting parts create large-scale patterns

Emergence

When simple interactions lead to complex outcomes

- small → big effects

Agent-Based Modeling (ABM)

Simulation where agents follow simple rules to produce social patterns

Agent

An individual unit in a model (person, group, belief, etc.)

Bounded Rationality

Agents have limited information and rely on biases/heuristics

Heterogeneous Agents

Agents differ in traits, roles, or behaviors

Generative Causation

Explaining outcomes by recreating them through simulation

Micro-level

Individual behaviors or psychological processes

Macro-level

Large-scale social patterns (norms, segregation, culture)

Minimal Society Paradigm

Step-by-step process of building and testing models

Steps of Minimal Society Paradigm

Model agents → Build society → Measure outcomes → Simulate → Explain

Schelling Segregation Model

Model showing how small preferences can lead to segregation

Homophily

Preference to be around similar others

- like prefers like

Threshold (Similarity Preference)

Minimum % of similar neighbors needed to feel "happy"

Key Finding (Schelling Model)

Even low bias (≈30%) leads to strong segregation

Tipping Point (Schelling)

Small changes in preference → large system-wide shifts

Majority Influence

Majority changes minority opinions directly

Minority Influence

Minority can influence majority over time

Indirect Minority Influence

Minority changes related beliefs first, then core beliefs later

Internal Consistency

People adjust beliefs to stay logically consistent

Social Change

When a minority opinion becomes a social norm

Tipping Dynamics

Sudden large change after a buildup

Latent Period

Delay before social change becomes visible

Gradual Change

Slow, steady shifts over time

Punctuated Change

Long stability → sudden shift

Social Network

Pattern of connections between individuals

Small-World Network

Highly connected with short paths (fast spread)

Scale-Free Network

Few highly connected nodes (influencers)

Lattice Network

Grid-like structure (local interactions)

3 Mechanisms of Social Influence (CSP Model)

1. Majority influence, 2. Indirect minority influence, 3. Internal consistency

Why is CSP different from traditional social psych?

It studies dynamic systems instead of simple cause-effect

What does ABM help us understand?

How individual actions create societal patterns

Why is the Schelling model important?

Shows segregation can happen without strong prejudice

Why is minority influence powerful?

It spreads indirectly and builds over time

Why are tipping points important?

They explain sudden social change

What does "emergence" mean in real life?

Individual choices → societal outcomes (like polarization)

CSP

modeling + simulation of social behavior

ABM

agents + rules → patterns

Schelling

low bias → segregation

Minority influence

indirect + delayed

Tipping point

sudden change

Latent period

hidden buildup