A Possible Revision of Heider’s Balance Theory by the Theory of Potential Games

• In Event: 123 - Section on Social Psychology Refereed Roundtable Session (co-sponsored with Section on Sociology of Emotions and Section on Sociology of Mental Health).
  In Refereed Roundtable 100min: Table 02. Social Networks

Abstract

Fifty years have passed since Heider’s social balance theory was proposed; nevertheless, it has not become obsolete. There are many studies on social networks that are based on Heider’s original idea. However, there have not been any attempts to verify whether Heider’s theory fulfills the requirement of scientific rigor. Hence, this research revisits Heider’s theory from the perspective of the theory of potential games and attempts to ascertain whether it meets scientific rigor. Heider’s original theory classifies each relationship with the dichotomous variables of “+” and “−.” However, with the help of potential games, I show that we need to include the parameters that describe the intensity of interactions of players, rather than simple dichotomous variables, to replicate real social relationships. When I include such parameters, I observe that possible outcomes of social relationships become more complex and closer to the social networks in real life than what Heider’s original theory and its theoretical descendant, the Cartwright-Harary theorem, predict. Hence, this research suggests that studies of any social networks should adopt the potential function method rather than Heider’s dichotomy of “+” and “−.”

Author

• Robert Hideo Mamada, Arizona State University