VVZ API is not affiliated with ETH Zurich. Data might be outdated or incorrect. Please view the official ETHZ Vorlesungsverzeichnis for binding information.

851-0585-05L 3 Credits DS D-GESS

Mathematical Sociology, Agent-Based Modeling and Artificial Societies

Lecturers & Examiners: Prof. Dr. Dirk Helbing, Prof. Dr. Albert Diaz-Guilera
VVZ CR n/a

Last Updated: 2026-02-05 15:24:19

Abstract

The lectures present mathematical models of attitude formation, decision-making, and human behavior, in particular in situations of social interactions. Particular attention is paid to the emergent self-organization and breakdown of cooperative behavior.

Objective

Students should gain an overview over the many interesting structure formation and other dynamical phenomena observed in social systems, originating from interactions of individuals. Moreover, participants of the course should learn how to set up mathematical models describing such systems. Finally, one should be able to derive in mathematical terms typical spatio-temporal characteristics of the systems under consideration. It is expected that the corresponding formalisms can be well formulated and explained.

Content

The lectures present mathematical models of attitude formation, decision-making, and behavior, in particular in situations of social interactions. Particular attention is paid to the emergent self-organization and breakdown of cooperative behavior. We will introduce agent-based, game theoretical, coupled differential equation, partial differential equation, stochastic and network models for a selection of the following problems: - Cognitive dissonanace - Decision making - Voter dynamics - Coalition formation - Social agglomeration - Social segregation - Social inequality - Social cooperation - Learning - Friendship network formation - Group dynamics - Crowd behavior - Market dynamics - Conflicts, wars and violence - Deviance and crime - Innovation dynamics - Emergence of conventions - Social norms - Language and culture

Resources

Lecture Notes

The course will be held for the first time, and there is no single book covering the current state of the art. The literature is rather widely spread over many journals. This course will try to give a comprehensive overview over the developments in the field. Although a book is planned for the future, it will not be possible to finish it before or during the course, but related literature will be mentioned in the lectures and provided on the course webpage.

Literature

[1] D. Helbing, Quantitative Sociodynamics (Kluwer Academic, Dordrecht, 1995) [2] J. Epstein, Generative Social Science: Studies in Agent-Based Computational Modeling (Princeton University, 2007) [3] Journal of Artificial Societies and Social Simulation, http://jasss.soc.surrey.ac.uk/JASSS.html [4] W. Weidlich, Sociodynamics (Harwood Academic, 2000) [5] M. A. Nowak, Evolutionary Dynamics (Harvard University, 2006) Further literature will be provided on the course page.

General Information

Language
English
Levels
DS
Frequency
Yearly recurring

Examination

Type
end-of-semester examination
Depending on the number of exam candidates, a written exam (90min, if more than 5 candidates) or individual oral exams (30min each, if less than 6 candidates) will be offered (not optional). In exceptional cases, a seminar thesis (simulation study) will be considered alternatively.

Course Components

Type Title Time & Place Hours
lecture Mathematical Sociology, Agent-Based Modeling and Artificial Societies
gute Mathematikkenntnisse notwendig, Teilnehmerzahl beschränkt auf 40 Pers.
  • Mon 09:15-11:00 (CAB G 56)
2 h weekly

Offered In