Gregarious behavior, human colonization and social differentiation: An agent-based model

Sebastian Fajardo*, Gert Jan Hofstede, Martijn de Vries, Mark R. Kramer, Andrés Bernal

*Corresponding author for this work

    Research output: Contribution to journalArticleScientificpeer-review

    1 Citation (Scopus)
    38 Downloads (Pure)

    Abstract

    Studies of colonization processes in past human societies often use a standard population model in which population is represented as a single quantity. Real populations in these processes, however, are structured with internal classes or stages, and classes are sometimes created based on social differentiation. In this present work, information about the colonization of Old Providence Island was used to create an agent-based model of the colonization process in a heterogeneous environment for a population with social differentiation. Agents were socially divided into two classes and modeled with dissimilar spatial clustering preferences. The model and simulations assessed the importance of gregarious behavior for colonization processes conducted in heterogeneous environments by socially-differentiated populations. Results suggest that in these conditions, the colonization process starts with an agent cluster in the largest and most suitable area. The spatial distribu-tion of agents maintained a tendency toward randomness as simulation time increased, even when gregariousness values increased. The most conspicuous effects in agent clustering were produced by the initial conditions and behavioral adaptations that increased the agent capacity to access more resources and the likelihood of gregariousness. The approach presented here could be used to analyze past human colonization events or support long-term conceptual design of future human colonization processes with small social formations into unfamiliar and uninhabited environments.

    Original languageEnglish
    Article number11
    Number of pages23
    JournalJASSS
    Volume23
    Issue number4
    DOIs
    Publication statusPublished - 2020

    Keywords

    • Archaeology
    • Caribbean
    • Gregarious Behavior
    • Human Colonization
    • Settlement Patterns
    • Social Differentiation

    Fingerprint

    Dive into the research topics of 'Gregarious behavior, human colonization and social differentiation: An agent-based model'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

    Cite this