Opinion dynamics and mutual influence with LLM agents through dialog simulation

Abstract: A fundamental challenge in opinion dynamics research is the scarcity of real-world longitudinal opinion data, which complicates the validation of theoretical models. To address this, we propose a novel simulation framework using LLM agents in structured multi-round dialogs. Each agent's dialog history is iteratively updated with its own previously stated opinions and those of others analogous to the classical DeGroot model. Furthermore, by retaining each agent's initial opinion throughout the dialog, we simulate anchoring effects consistent with the Friedkin-Johnsen model of opinion dynamics. Our framework thus bridges classical opinion dynamics models and modern multi-agent LLM systems, providing a scalable tool for simulating and analyzing opinion formation when real-world data is limited or inaccessible.