arXiv:1012.1375physics.soc-ph
A mathematical model of social group competition with application to the growth of religious non-affiliation
Abstract
When groups compete for members, the resulting dynamics of human social activity may be understandable with simple mathematical models. Here, we apply techniques from dynamical systems and perturbation theory to analyze a theoretical framework for the growth and decline of competing social groups. We present a new treatment of the competition for adherents between religious and irreligious segments of modern secular societies and compile a new international data set tracking the growth of religious non-affiliation. Data suggest a particular case of our general growth law, leading to clear predictions about possible future trends in society.
I find this very interesting, and I hope that they get it peer reviewed somewhere so it's more "official" than arxiv. I don't normally view religion as a social activity, and this analysis seems to hinge on social factors (i.e. it seems to be counting edges instead of nodes).…
bartonfinkView on HNParent context
I looked at the paper (already kindly linked by bartonfink, but here it is again: http://arxiv.org/abs/1012.1375). I think there's considerably less to it than meets the eye. The authors have a very simple model of the dynamics of religious adherence, which amounts to saying…
gjm11View on HNParent context