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A hybrid mesoscopic/agent-based model for crowd dynamics with emotional contagion

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  • Jebrane, Aissam
  • El Mousaoui, Abdelghani

Abstract

This work investigates crowd dynamics in evacuation scenarios by incorporating emotional contagion. We develop a hybrid framework that couples a mesoscopic kinetic model for pedestrian motion with an agent-based model of emotional interactions. At the emotional level, symmetric and isotropic influence rules are assumed, so that each individual adapts their emotional intensity to the locally averaged state of their neighbors. Numerical simulations, based on a Monte Carlo method for motion and an agent-based scheme for emotion, examine three representative scenarios: calm crowds without contagion, fully emotional crowds, and mixed populations. The results show that emotional contagion amplifies congestion and increases evacuation times. The proposed dual-scale approach highlights how symmetric emotional interactions can lead to asymmetric and highly unbalanced evacuation patterns, providing new insights for crisis management and safety design.

Suggested Citation

  • Jebrane, Aissam & El Mousaoui, Abdelghani, 2026. "A hybrid mesoscopic/agent-based model for crowd dynamics with emotional contagion," Physica A: Statistical Mechanics and its Applications, Elsevier, vol. 691(C).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:phsmap:v:691:y:2026:i:c:s0378437126002396
    DOI: 10.1016/j.physa.2026.131503
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