Modelling norms and values

Abstract

To create intelligent computers that exhibit human cognitive behaviour, it is beneficial to have a deep understanding of human cognitive processes. Decision-making is such a cognitive process. This thesis focuses on the modelling of social decision-making. With better modelling of social aspects like norms and values, scientists are able to gather more insights into complex social phenomena. A deeper understanding of social processes leads to better explanations of human behaviour, better policy making and better human-like autonomous agents with human-like behaviour. I reviewed several mathematical and computational modelling techniques from the perspective of modelling social processes. This thesis includes a discussion about their benefits and drawbacks regarding the modelling of social phenomena. Agent-Based Social Simulation (ABSS) is found as the best technique for modelling norms and values, mainly because it is able to capture the dynamics of social processes. The rest of the features of ABSS are then discussed and linked with an example study that models norms and values. Next, I used ABSS as a modelling technique for social aspects by replicating a model described in this study.