PHYSICAL ANALYSIS OF SOCIAL DYNAMICS: A SOCIOPHYSICS PERSPECTIVE

Year 2024, Volume: 7 Issue: 1, 44 - 56, 30.06.2024

Yeşim Öktem , Elif P. Tuncer , Ali Özhan Akyüz

https://doi.org/10.70030/sjmakeu.1483649

Abstract

Sociophysics is an interdisciplinary field that uses methods from the physical sciences to study human behavior and interactions. It includes mathematical and computational techniques such as big data analysis, statistical modeling, network theory, and simulations. It analyzes complex systems to understand the dynamics of society. Historically, sociophysics emerged from applying statistical mechanics and thermodynamics to social phenomena. Foundational work has modeled opinion dynamics, crowd behavior, and information diffusion in social networks, and provided insights into consensus, polarization, and social stability. The basic concepts are based on treating individuals as agents, using network theory, and applying statistical mechanics and dynamical systems. Methods include big data analysis, statistical modeling, simulations, and network analysis. Future research will aim to integrate artificial intelligence and machine learning, foster interdisciplinary collaboration, utilize real-time data, and apply findings to public policy. Sociophysics aims to improve our understanding of social systems and solve today's society's complex problems. In this study, the field of sociophysics, its historical development, studies in the literature, and methods were generally discussed.

Keywords

Complex systems, dynamics, sociology, sociophysics

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