Time for another activity: Red Chile, Green Chile

Using software to analyze model data Fads in social systems: Red Chile, Green Chile §Surprising dynamics of a very simple social system §We often begin this study of this system with a game where students play the role the agents play in the computer model. §Data is collected (secretly) about the distribution of red and green chile partisans, and plotted on a spreadsheet out of sight of the participants in the game. §People are often poor at guessing the results of the game in terms of systems dynamics §Question: What happens when you try to be in the minority? Press me! Rules of the majority game: Pick a chile color, with the distribution determined according to slider setting Move randomly After you have met five “people,” choose the chile favored by the majority of them

Thinking slide: The Minority Game

Using software to analyze model data Fads in social systems: Red Chile, Green Chile §Surprised? §Can we model this mathematically? §What sort of function? §What sort of behaviors would you expect from a system where “Christmas” is a third chile choice? Press me! Rules of the minority game: Pick a chile color, with the distribution determined according to slider setting Move randomly After you have met five “people,” choose the chile favored by the minority of them