Eur. Phys. J. B (2015) 88: 95
https://doi.org/10.1140/epjb/e2015-40462-y

Regular Article

An opinion-driven behavioral dynamics model for addictive behaviors

¹ Sandia National Laboratories, P.O. 5800 MS1138, Albuquerque, NM 87185-1138, USA
² Center for Tobacco Products, U.S. Food and Drug Administration, 9200 Corporate Blvd. (Room 120M), Rockville, MD 20850, USA

^a e-mail: tmoore@sandia.gov

Received: 2 September 2014
Received in final form: 15 January 2015
Published online: 8 April 2015

Abstract

We present a model of behavioral dynamics that combines a social network-based opinion dynamics model with behavioral mapping. The behavioral component is discrete and history-dependent to represent situations in which an individual’s behavior is initially driven by opinion and later constrained by physiological or psychological conditions that serve to maintain the behavior. Individuals are modeled as nodes in a social network connected by directed edges. Parameter sweeps illustrate model behavior and the effects of individual parameters and parameter interactions on model results. Mapping a continuous opinion variable into a discrete behavioral space induces clustering on directed networks. Clusters provide targets of opportunity for influencing the network state; however, the smaller the network the greater the stochasticity and potential variability in outcomes. This has implications both for behaviors that are influenced by close relationships verses those influenced by societal norms and for the effectiveness of strategies for influencing those behaviors.