Advanced search
Add to list

The effect of homophily on co-offending outcomes

(2025)
Author
Organization
Project
Abstract
This Agent-Based Model is designed to simulate how similarity-based partner selection (homophily) shapes the formation of co-offending networks and the diffusion of skills within those networks. Its purpose is to isolate and test the effects of offenders’ preference for similar partners on network structure and information flow, under controlled conditions. In the model, offenders are represented as agents with an individual attribute and a set of skills. At each time step, agents attempt to select partners based on similarity preference. When two agents mutually select each other, they commit a co-offense, forming a tie and exchanging a skill. The model tracks the evolution of network properties (e.g., density, clustering, and tie strength) as well as the spread of skills over time. This simple and theoretical model does not aim to produce precise empirical predictions but rather to generate insights and test hypotheses about the trade-off between network stability and information diffusion. It provides a flexible framework for exploring how changes in partner selection preferences may lead to differences in criminal network dynamics. Although the model was developed to simulate offenders’ interactions, in principle, it could be applied to other social processes involving social learning and skills exchange. More information about the model can be found in the associated publication.
Keywords
co-offending, criminology, homophily, skill acquisition, social network analysis
License
LicenseNotListed
Other license
MIT
Access
open access

Citation

Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:

@misc{01K6A68K333RE5316A93GHXC98,
  abstract     = {{This Agent-Based Model is designed to simulate how similarity-based partner selection (homophily) shapes the formation of co-offending networks and the diffusion of skills within those networks. Its purpose is to isolate and test the effects of offenders’ preference for similar partners on network structure and information flow, under controlled conditions.

In the model, offenders are represented as agents with an individual attribute and a set of skills. At each time step, agents attempt to select partners based on similarity preference. When two agents mutually select each other, they commit a co-offense, forming a tie and exchanging a skill. The model tracks the evolution of network properties (e.g., density, clustering, and tie strength) as well as the spread of skills over time.

This simple and theoretical model does not aim to produce precise empirical predictions but rather to generate insights and test hypotheses about the trade-off between network stability and information diffusion. It provides a flexible framework for exploring how changes in partner selection preferences may lead to differences in criminal network dynamics. Although the model was developed to simulate offenders’ interactions, in principle, it could be applied to other social processes involving social learning and skills exchange.

More information about the model can be found in the associated publication. }},
  author       = {{Klymentiev, Ruslan and Vandeviver, Christophe and Rocha, Luis E C}},
  keywords     = {{co-offending,criminology,homophily,skill acquisition,social network analysis}},
  publisher    = {{CoMSES Net}},
  title        = {{The effect of homophily on co-offending outcomes}},
  url          = {{http://doi.org/10.25937/3VAH-2A07}},
  year         = {{2025}},
}

Altmetric
View in Altmetric