Modeling the dynamics of social systems

Abstract A procedure is demonstrated for constructing mathematical models of social systems and then simulating the behavior of such systems on a computer. First, sociological concepts are transformed into well-defined variables, and then system dynamics techniques are employed to construct a set of differential and algebraic equations that describe the dynamics of those variables. These dynamics are then simulated and used to establish the empirical adequacy of the theory being modeled. An Example is provided for the specific social theory dealing with norm systems.