Group interactions modulate critical mass dynamics in social convention

Abstract How can minorities of individuals overturn social conventions? The theory critical mass states that when a committed minority reaches size, cascade behavioural changes occur, overturning apparently stable norms. Evidence comes from theoretical and empirical studies in which very different sizes, including extremely small ones, manage to bring system its tipping point. Here, we explore this diversity scenarios by introducing group interactions as crucial element realism into model for convention. We find the necessary trigger behaviour change be if have limited propensity their views. Moreover, ability existing norms depends complex way on size. Our findings reconcile sizes found previous investigations unveil role groups such processes. This further highlights importance emerging field higher-order networks, beyond pairwise interactions.