Individual attitude change and societal dynamics: Computational experiments with psychological theories.

We present an agent-based model for studying the societal implications of attitude change theories. Various psychological theories persuasive communication at individual level are implemented as simulation experiments. The allows us to investigate effects contagion and assimilation, motivated cognition, polarity, source credibility, idiosyncratic formation. Simulations show that different produce characteristic macrolevel patterns. Contagion assimilation central mechanisms generating consensus, however, generates a radicalized consensus. Motivated cognition causes polarization or fragmentation attitudes. Polarity credibility have comparatively little effect on distribution discuss how simulations provide bridge between microlevel aggregated studied by sociology. This approach enables new types evidence evaluating theory complement experimental approaches, thus answering calls enhance role coherent formalized in science. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2021 APA, all rights reserved).