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Territorial developments based on graffiti: A statistical mechanics approach

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  • Barbaro, Alethea B.T.
  • Chayes, Lincoln
  • D’Orsogna, Maria R.

Abstract

We study the well-known sociological phenomenon of gang aggregation and territory formation through an interacting agent system defined on a lattice. We introduce a two-gang Hamiltonian model where agents have red or blue affiliation but are otherwise indistinguishable. In this model, all interactions are indirect and occur only via graffiti markings, on-site as well as on nearest neighbor locations. We also allow for gang proliferation and graffiti suppression. Within the context of this model, we show that gang clustering and territory formation may arise under specific parameter choices and that a phase transition may occur between well-mixed, possibly dilute configurations and well separated, clustered ones. Using methods from statistical mechanics, we study the phase transition between these two qualitatively different scenarios. In the mean-fields rendition of this model, we identify parameter regimes where the transition is first or second order. In all cases, we have found that the transitions are a consequence solely of the gang to graffiti couplings, implying that direct gang to gang interactions are not strictly necessary for gang territory formation; in particular, graffiti may be the sole driving force behind gang clustering. We further discuss possible sociological—as well as ecological—ramifications of our results.

Suggested Citation

  • Barbaro, Alethea B.T. & Chayes, Lincoln & D’Orsogna, Maria R., 2013. "Territorial developments based on graffiti: A statistical mechanics approach," Physica A: Statistical Mechanics and its Applications, Elsevier, vol. 392(1), pages 252-270.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:phsmap:v:392:y:2013:i:1:p:252-270
    DOI: 10.1016/j.physa.2012.08.001
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Stauffer, Dietrich, 2004. "Introduction to statistical physics outside physics," Physica A: Statistical Mechanics and its Applications, Elsevier, vol. 336(1), pages 1-5.
    2. Chayes, L. & Machta, J., 1997. "Graphical representations and cluster algorithms I. Discrete spin systems," Physica A: Statistical Mechanics and its Applications, Elsevier, vol. 239(4), pages 542-601.
    3. Luca Giuggioli & Jonathan R Potts & Stephen Harris, 2011. "Animal Interactions and the Emergence of Territoriality," PLOS Computational Biology, Public Library of Science, vol. 7(3), pages 1-9, March.
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    Cited by:

    1. Abdulaziz Alsenafi & Alethea B. T. Barbaro, 2021. "A Multispecies Cross-Diffusion Model for Territorial Development," Mathematics, MDPI, vol. 9(12), pages 1-39, June.
    2. Alsenafi, Abdulaziz & Barbaro, Alethea B.T., 2018. "A convection–diffusion model for gang territoriality," Physica A: Statistical Mechanics and its Applications, Elsevier, vol. 510(C), pages 765-786.

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