A spatially explicit agent-based model of opinion and reputation dynamics

Key in spatial planning are opinion dynamics (the exchange of opinions between agents and the consecutive updates in opinions by individual agents). A number of possibly relevant factors that are commonly excluded in well-known models of opinion dynamics are peer pressure, localized opinion formation through isolation, and the reputation of the agents involved. We present a model of agents with a fixed spatial location (e.g., a household) in a “village” who are capable of only local interactions with their neighbours. There exist nonlinear feedbacks between updates in opinion and reputation, which are described by smooth mathematical functions. Sensitivity analysis is used to quantify the contributions of different factors to the convergence of opinions within the “village”.