The Role of Network Rewiring in Influencing Extremism and Pluralistic Ignorance

Ezgi Topuz; Gönenç Yücel

doi:10.1007/978-3-031-91782-0_36

The Role of Network Rewiring in Influencing Extremism and Pluralistic Ignorance

Ezgi Topuz^*
, Gönenç Yücel

^*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Conference paper › Academic › peer-review

Abstract

Opinion dynamics research uses mathematical modeling and network science to understand how opinions spread and evolve. Rewiring, the process by which individuals modify their social networks, plays a pivotal role in this phenomenon. In this study, we examine the effects of probabilistic rewiring and the presence of zealots using an expressed-private opinion model with bounded confidence. Agents sever links with neighbors whose opinions deviate significantly from their own. Two rewiring scenarios are considered: In the first, agents reconnect with another neighbor to maintain a fixed number of links. In the second scenario, the severed links may not be replaced. Our findings reveal that rewiring reduces pluralistic ignorance and hidden extremism by allowing agents to adjust their social networks and resist extreme opinions. However, the presence of isolated agents amplifies extremism and polarization, highlighting the critical role of social connections in fostering moderate opinions.

Original language	English
Title of host publication	Advances in Social Simulation - Proceedings of the 19th Social Simulation Conference, 2024
Editors	Marcin Czupryna, Bogumil Kaminski, Harko Verhagen
Publisher	Springer
Pages	493-505
Number of pages	13
ISBN (Print)	9783031917813
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-91782-0_36
Publication status	Published - 26 Oct 2025
Externally published	Yes
Event	19th Conference of the European Social Simulation Association, ESSA 2024 - Cracow, Poland Duration: 16 Sept 2024 → 20 Sept 2024

Publication series

Name	Springer Proceedings in Complexity
ISSN (Print)	2213-8684
ISSN (Electronic)	2213-8692

Conference/symposium

Conference/symposium	19th Conference of the European Social Simulation Association, ESSA 2024
Country/Territory	Poland
City	Cracow
Period	16/09/24 → 20/09/24

UN SDGs

This output contributes to the following UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

SDG 16 Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions

Keywords

Agent-Based modeling
Bounded confidence
Extremism
Polarization
Rewiring

Access to Document

10.1007/978-3-031-91782-0_36

Cite this

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title = "The Role of Network Rewiring in Influencing Extremism and Pluralistic Ignorance",

abstract = "Opinion dynamics research uses mathematical modeling and network science to understand how opinions spread and evolve. Rewiring, the process by which individuals modify their social networks, plays a pivotal role in this phenomenon. In this study, we examine the effects of probabilistic rewiring and the presence of zealots using an expressed-private opinion model with bounded confidence. Agents sever links with neighbors whose opinions deviate significantly from their own. Two rewiring scenarios are considered: In the first, agents reconnect with another neighbor to maintain a fixed number of links. In the second scenario, the severed links may not be replaced. Our findings reveal that rewiring reduces pluralistic ignorance and hidden extremism by allowing agents to adjust their social networks and resist extreme opinions. However, the presence of isolated agents amplifies extremism and polarization, highlighting the critical role of social connections in fostering moderate opinions.",

keywords = "Agent-Based modeling, Bounded confidence, Extremism, Polarization, Rewiring",

author = "Ezgi Topuz and G{\"o}nen{\c c} Y{\"u}cel",

year = "2025",

month = oct,

day = "26",

doi = "10.1007/978-3-031-91782-0\_36",

language = "English",

isbn = "9783031917813",

series = "Springer Proceedings in Complexity",

publisher = "Springer",

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editor = "Marcin Czupryna and Bogumil Kaminski and Harko Verhagen",

booktitle = "Advances in Social Simulation - Proceedings of the 19th Social Simulation Conference, 2024",

address = "Germany",

note = "19th Conference of the European Social Simulation Association, ESSA 2024 ; Conference date: 16-09-2024 Through 20-09-2024",

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Topuz, E & Yücel, G 2025, The Role of Network Rewiring in Influencing Extremism and Pluralistic Ignorance. in M Czupryna, B Kaminski & H Verhagen (eds), Advances in Social Simulation - Proceedings of the 19th Social Simulation Conference, 2024. Springer Proceedings in Complexity, Springer, pp. 493-505, 19th Conference of the European Social Simulation Association, ESSA 2024, Cracow, Poland, 16/09/24. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-91782-0_36

The Role of Network Rewiring in Influencing Extremism and Pluralistic Ignorance. / Topuz, Ezgi; Yücel, Gönenç.
Advances in Social Simulation - Proceedings of the 19th Social Simulation Conference, 2024. ed. / Marcin Czupryna; Bogumil Kaminski; Harko Verhagen. Springer, 2025. p. 493-505 (Springer Proceedings in Complexity).

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Conference paper › Academic › peer-review

TY - GEN

T1 - The Role of Network Rewiring in Influencing Extremism and Pluralistic Ignorance

AU - Topuz, Ezgi

AU - Yücel, Gönenç

PY - 2025/10/26

Y1 - 2025/10/26

N2 - Opinion dynamics research uses mathematical modeling and network science to understand how opinions spread and evolve. Rewiring, the process by which individuals modify their social networks, plays a pivotal role in this phenomenon. In this study, we examine the effects of probabilistic rewiring and the presence of zealots using an expressed-private opinion model with bounded confidence. Agents sever links with neighbors whose opinions deviate significantly from their own. Two rewiring scenarios are considered: In the first, agents reconnect with another neighbor to maintain a fixed number of links. In the second scenario, the severed links may not be replaced. Our findings reveal that rewiring reduces pluralistic ignorance and hidden extremism by allowing agents to adjust their social networks and resist extreme opinions. However, the presence of isolated agents amplifies extremism and polarization, highlighting the critical role of social connections in fostering moderate opinions.

AB - Opinion dynamics research uses mathematical modeling and network science to understand how opinions spread and evolve. Rewiring, the process by which individuals modify their social networks, plays a pivotal role in this phenomenon. In this study, we examine the effects of probabilistic rewiring and the presence of zealots using an expressed-private opinion model with bounded confidence. Agents sever links with neighbors whose opinions deviate significantly from their own. Two rewiring scenarios are considered: In the first, agents reconnect with another neighbor to maintain a fixed number of links. In the second scenario, the severed links may not be replaced. Our findings reveal that rewiring reduces pluralistic ignorance and hidden extremism by allowing agents to adjust their social networks and resist extreme opinions. However, the presence of isolated agents amplifies extremism and polarization, highlighting the critical role of social connections in fostering moderate opinions.

KW - Agent-Based modeling

KW - Bounded confidence

KW - Extremism

KW - Polarization

KW - Rewiring

U2 - 10.1007/978-3-031-91782-0_36

DO - 10.1007/978-3-031-91782-0_36

M3 - Conference paper

AN - SCOPUS:105025965370

SN - 9783031917813

T3 - Springer Proceedings in Complexity

SP - 493

EP - 505

BT - Advances in Social Simulation - Proceedings of the 19th Social Simulation Conference, 2024

A2 - Czupryna, Marcin

A2 - Kaminski, Bogumil

A2 - Verhagen, Harko

PB - Springer

T2 - 19th Conference of the European Social Simulation Association, ESSA 2024

Y2 - 16 September 2024 through 20 September 2024

ER -

The Role of Network Rewiring in Influencing Extremism and Pluralistic Ignorance

Abstract

Publication series

Conference/symposium

UN SDGs

Keywords

Access to Document

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Cite this