A dynamic model of segregation and integration: Incorporating adaptive intolerance, media bias, and conformity into the Schelling framework

Thomas Schelling introduced his agent-based model of segregation in 1971 and concluded that even when there is a low amount of intolerance within society that segregation will develop if people follow their individual preferences. A large body of literature building of this framework has been built and has bolstered this claim. This paper aims to take the same framework but instead look for ways to get to an integrated state. We focus on Allport’s contact hypothesis that states that if there is equal status among groups, common goals among groups, and an institutional mechanism supporting intergroup contact then intergroup contact can reduce prejudice. We incorporate the contact hypothesis by having individuals adjust their intolerance based on their current neighborhood composition and the ease of conforming to their surroundings. Furthermore, we add in positive and negative media effects, as individuals are likely to get information about an outgroup from the media (e.g., news, TV, movies, etc.) that they consume. We find that having a society composed of individuals who do not easily conform to their surroundings and displaying positive examples of both groups in media promote integration within society.Author summary: Thomas Schelling’s model of segregation was an important advance in modeling segregation. His framework demonstrated that segregation can develop even with a relatively low level of intolerance among agents. Many researchers have built upon this seminal model, yet few subsequent models have incorporated an adaptive tolerance. Our model addresses this by incorporating the effect that the media has on changing intolerance. It also applies the tenets of the contact hypothesis, which states that under certain conditions, contact has the ability to reduce prejudice. We use a flexible mathematical function—similar to what is observed in data—as a reaction function, centering on a conformity value. This conformity value determines whether agents are willing to adapt their tolerance based on their current neighborhood composition. We find that when this conformity value is relatively small, an integrated state arises. Furthermore, this conformity value influences how effectively media that portrays the outgroup in a positive light can steer the agents toward an integrated equilibrium.