Multi-agent dependence by dependence graphs

Abstract

In this paper, we present an abstract structure called dependence graph, an extension of the notion of dependence network, as proposed in [16]. While this latter can be applied to express a set of dependence relations of a single agent, this new structure can be applied to the multi-agent case. It can be used, therefore, for the study of emerging social structures, such as groups and collectives, and may form a knowledge base for managing complexity in both competitive and organisational or other cooperative contexts. We analyze several properties of this structure, relating them to some corresponding social phenomena regarding group formation and cohesiveness.