29 Oct
2025
29 Oct
'25
9:14 a.m.
Dear All,
The CEU Department of Cognitive Science cordially invites you to the following
talk<https://events.ceu.edu/2025-11-05/departmental-colloquium-mirta-gal…
by:
Speaker: Mirta Galesic<https://csh.ac.at/mirta-galesic/> (Complexity Science Hub,
Vienna)
Time: 4pm (to 6 pm) CET
Date: Wednesday, 5th November 2025
Venue: D002 (QS Vienna) and
Zoom: https://ceu-edu.zoom.us/j/99083374688?pwd=jPtfRjTKSJGEzwkeeCNXaD0FiqsPzD.1
Meeting ID: 990 8337 4688
Passcode: 359871
Chair: Christophe Heintz
Title: Dynamics of belief networks
Abstract:
Beliefs in individual minds are related and can be represented as networks. The structure
and dynamics of these networks can be studied on both individual and collective levels. I
will present the related ongoing research in our group. First, I will describe analogies
that have been used to describe and model belief dynamics, along with their conceptual
mileage an baggage (Olsson & Galesic, 2024, TICS). Second, I will describe a model of
belief dynamics based on the analogy with systems studied in statistical physics (Dalege
et al., 2025, Psychological Review). Third, I will describe two extensions of this model,
one providing a framework for a unified model of psychological processes involved in
belief dynamics, such as ego projection, social influence, authenticity, and conformity
(Zimmaro & Olsson, 2025, arXiv:2502.14362); and the other describing a plausible
mechanism for link updating in belief networks (Steiglechner et al., in prep). Finally, I
will describe two novel paradigms for collecting empirical data about belief networks, one
using natural language processing to extract individual and collective belief networks
from comments on news sites (Barolo et al., in prep; Ha et al., 2025, arXiv:2504.08152);
and the other using LLM-assisted interviewing and a visual interface to elicit
self-reported belief networks (Poulsen et al., in prep). Ultimately, these and related
efforts should help us understand and adapt our belief networks to ongoing societal
challenges from climate change to intergroup conflicts.
*Anyone not affiliated with CEU wishing to attend in-person in Vienna must RSVP to get
access to the lecture hall.
Best regards,
Fanni
------------------------------------------------
FANNI TAKÁTSY
Lab Manager/Research Coordinator,
Social Mind Center
------------------------------------------------
[cid:42067b17-4991-4d34-9c89-2f5005166125]
CENTRAL EUROPEAN UNIVERSITY
Quellenstrasse 51. | 1100 Vienna, Austria
takatsyf@ceu.edu<mailto:jeneia@ceu.edu>
http://socialmind.ceu.edu/
http://cognitivescience.ceu.edu/
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