Biswas-Chatterjee-Sen kinetic exchange opinion model for two connected groups

Abstract: We consider a kinetic model of opinion dynamics known as the Biswas-Chatterjee-Sen model with a modular interaction structure. The system consists of two groups of agents that feature more frequent interactions within each group and rarer interactions between agents of different groups. We use the mean-field analytical approximation to determine that aside from previously known ordered and disordered states, a new antisymmetric ordered state is stable, where each group has an opposite dominant opinion. The limits of system interaction strength and noise for the stability of such a state are determined, with a discontinuous transition from an antisymmetric to a symmetric state happening if thresholds are exceeded. The results of numerical agent-based simulations confirm our analytical predictions and show that the critical values of noise and interaction strength are predicted with good accuracy.