# Scientific Polarization

arXiv: https://arxiv.org/abs/1712.04561 · HTML: https://mlsanity.com/paper/1712.04561/

## Key facts

- Cited by 1 papers in the map (data through 14 Oct 2026).
- First posted on arXiv 12 Dec 2017.

## Built on by (most cited first, 1 of 1)

- [Where Reliability Lives: Experimental Localisation of Behavioural Properties in an Agent System](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2609.03192/) (2026)

## Abstract (arXiv)

Contemporary societies are often "polarized", in the sense that sub-groups within these societies hold stably opposing beliefs, even when there is a fact of the matter. Extant models of polarization do not capture the idea that some beliefs are true and others false. Here we present a model, based on the network epistemology framework of Bala and Goyal ["Learning from neighbors", textitRev. Econ. Stud. 65(3), 784-811 (1998)], in which polarization emerges even though agents gather evidence about their beliefs, and true belief yields a pay-off advantage. The key mechanism that generates polarization involves treating evidence generated by other agents as uncertain when their beliefs are relatively different from one's own.