We developed a model of interaction between pairs at a party, which examines how patterns of interaction depend on initial social networks social attributes, and the proportion of extroverts at the party. We began with the thought that agents that enter with denser initial networks might actually talk with fewer people over the course of the party because they will be more likely to remain within their own network. Our model did exhibit this phenomenon, though under specific conditions.
Agents attend a party to talk with others.
They are looking for people they would get along with. They commence interactions at random with other agents, but they interact longer with agents to whom they are closer in social characteristics. In addition, when agents come into contact with a new potential partner, they are more likely to commence a conversation with someone they already know. The level of extroversion determines the probability of interacting with a stranger. Every round the agents test other agents at random to initiate an interaction.