Emergence mechanisms of group consensus in social networks
Min WANG1, Zi-Ke ZHANG2()
1. College of Media and International Culture, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China 2. College of Media and International Culture, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China; Research Center for Digital Communication, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China
Reaching consensus within larger social network groups has emerged as a pivotal concern in the digital age of connectivity. This article redefines group consensus as the emergence of collective intelligence resulting from self-organizing actions and interactions of individuals within a social network group. In our exploration of extant research on group consensus, we illuminate two frequently underestimated, yet noteworthy facets: Dynamism and emergence. In contrast to the conventional perspective of consensus as a mere outcome, we perceive it as an ongoing, dynamic process. This process encompasses self-organized communication and interaction among group members, collectively guiding the group towards cognitive convergence and viewpoint integration. Consequently, it is imperative to redirect our focus from the outcomes of group interactions to an examination of the relationships and processes underpinning consensus formation, thus elucidating the mechanisms responsible for the generation of group consensus. The amalgamation of cognitive contexts and accurate simplification of real-world scenarios for simulation and experimental analysis offers a pragmatic operational approach. This study contributes novel theoretical underpinnings and quantitative insights for establishing and sustaining group consensus within the realm of engineering management practices. Concurrently, it holds substantial importance for advancing the broader research landscape pertaining to social consensus.
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