Segregation Model

Thomas Schelling's model of segregation is a classic study of the effects of local decisions on global dynamics. In the model residents are described as agents. Agents with mild preferences for same-type neighbors, but without preferences for segregated neighborhoods, can end up producing complete segregation.

In 1971, Thomas Schelling published an article dealing with racial dynamics called "Models of Segregation". In this paper he showed that a small preference for one's neighbors to be of the same color could lead to total segregation. He used coins on graph paper to demonstrate his theory by placing pennies and nickels in different patterns on the "board" and then moving them one by one if they were in an "unhappy" situation. The positive feedback cycle of segregation - prejudice - in-group preference can be found in most human populations, with great variation in what are regarded as meaningful differences – gender, age, race, ethnicity, language, sexual preference, religion, etc. Once a cycle of separation-prejudice-discrimination-separation has begun, it has a self-sustaining momentum.

Links

• NetLogo model of Schelling's Segragation Model