Agent-Based Analysis of Patterns in Crowd Behaviour Involving Contagion of Mental States

Abstract

Abstract. In this paper a computational analysis is made of patterns in crowd behaviour. As a basis an existing agent-based model is used for contagion of emotions, beliefs and intentions. This model is used in an adapted form to simulate a real-life incident that took place at May 4, 2010 in Amsterdam. From available video material and witness reports useful empirical data were extracted. In simulations similar patterns were achieved, whereby some of the parameters of the model were tuned to the application case addressed, and most parameters were assigned default values. The results show on the one hand that the agent-based model is useful to describe real-life phenomena in crowds, and on the other hand that the inclusion of contagion of belief, emotion, and intention states of agents results in a better reproduction of the incident.