Conflict and segregation in networks: An experiment on the interplay between individual preferences and social influence

Lea  Ellwardt; Penélope  Hernández; Guillem  Martínez-Cánovas; Manuel  Muñoz-Herrera

doi:10.3934/jdg.2016010

Article Contents

2016, Volume 3, Issue 2: 191-216. Doi: 10.3934/jdg.2016010

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Conflict and segregation in networks: An experiment on the interplay between individual preferences and social influence

1.
Institute of Sociology and Social Psychology, University of Cologne, Cologne
2.
ERI-CES, Departamento de Análisis Económico, Universitat de Valencia, Avenida Los Naranjos s/n, Campus de Tarongers, Valencia, 46022

Received: January 31, 2016

Revised: March 31, 2016

Published: March 2016

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Abstract

We examine the interplay between a person's individual preference and the social influence others exert. We provide a model of network relationships with conflicting preferences, where individuals are better off coordinating with those around them, but where not all have a preference for the same action. We test our model in an experiment, varying the level of conflicting preferences between individuals. Our findings suggest that preferences are more salient than social influence, under conflicting preferences: subjects relate mainly with others who have the same preferences. This leads to two undesirable outcomes: network segregation and social inefficiency. The same force that helps people individually, hurts society.

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Mathematics Subject Classification: Primary: 91A90; Secondary: 91A40.

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