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The Effect of Noise on the Emergence of Continuous Norms and its Evolutionary Dynamics

Stavros Anagnou, Daniel Polani, Christoph Salge

TL;DR

It is claimed that the framework that evolves the noise/ambiguity of norms may be a new way to model the tight/loose framework of norms, suggesting that despite ambiguous norms detrimental effect on society, evolution does not favour clarity.

Abstract

We examine the effect of noise on societies of agents using an agent-based model of evolutionary norm emergence. Generally, we see that noisy societies are more selfish, smaller and discontent, and are caught in rounds of perpetual punishment preventing them from flourishing. Surprisingly, despite the effect of noise on the population, it does not seem to evolve away. We carry out further analysis and provide reasons for why this may be the case. Furthermore, we claim that our framework that evolves the noise/ambiguity of norms may be a new way to model the tight/loose framework of norms, suggesting that despite ambiguous norms detrimental effect on society, evolution does not favour clarity.

The Effect of Noise on the Emergence of Continuous Norms and its Evolutionary Dynamics

TL;DR

It is claimed that the framework that evolves the noise/ambiguity of norms may be a new way to model the tight/loose framework of norms, suggesting that despite ambiguous norms detrimental effect on society, evolution does not favour clarity.

Abstract

We examine the effect of noise on societies of agents using an agent-based model of evolutionary norm emergence. Generally, we see that noisy societies are more selfish, smaller and discontent, and are caught in rounds of perpetual punishment preventing them from flourishing. Surprisingly, despite the effect of noise on the population, it does not seem to evolve away. We carry out further analysis and provide reasons for why this may be the case. Furthermore, we claim that our framework that evolves the noise/ambiguity of norms may be a new way to model the tight/loose framework of norms, suggesting that despite ambiguous norms detrimental effect on society, evolution does not favour clarity.
Paper Structure (22 sections, 9 figures)

This paper contains 22 sections, 9 figures.

Table of Contents

  1. Introduction
  2. Model and Experiments
  3. Initialisation
  4. Eat
  5. Sanction
  6. Metabolise
  7. Death and Reproduction
  8. Creating Probabilistic Behaviour
  9. Implementation Choices
  10. Results
  11. Continuous Norm Emergence
  12. Comparison Deterministic vs. Probabilistic Model
  13. Noise Evolution
  14. Interpreting the Evolution of Noise
  15. Discussion
  16. ...and 7 more sections

Figures (9)

  • Figure 1: Flow diagram describing the stages of the agent-based simulation.
  • Figure 2: The average value of each trait in the population plotted over time. Deterministic (left) and probabilistic (right). Individual runs are plotted as coloured lines and the average of those runs is plotted as a black line. N = 34 per condition.
  • Figure 3: The population-level variance (the variance of a trait in each population) of each trait plotted over time. Deterministic (left) and probabilistic (right). Individual runs are plotted as coloured lines and the average of those runs is plotted as a black line. N = 34 per condition.
  • Figure 4: Various agent and population properties plotted over time. Deterministic (left) and probabilistic (right). Individual runs are plotted as coloured lines and the average of those runs is plotted as a black line. N = 100 per condition.
  • Figure 5: The average standard deviation (noise) for each trait plotted over time. Individual runs are plotted as coloured lines and the average of those runs is plotted as a black line. N = 100 per condition.
  • ...and 4 more figures