THE EMERGENCE OF GROUPS IN THE EVOLUTION OF FRIENDSHIP NETWORKS

Friendship networks usually show a certain degree of segmentation: sub groups of friends. The explanation of the emergence of such groups fro m initially dyadic pair friendships is a difficult but important probl em. In this paper we attempt to provide a first contribution to the ex planation of subgroup formation in friendship networks by using the LS set as a definition for a friendship group. We construct a dynamic in dividual oriented model of friendship formation and provide preliminar y simulation results that give an idea of how to continue the process of explaining group formation.