Glossary & Interpretation Guide
Reference guide for all simulation metrics, their interpretation, and comparative analysis methodology.
A measure of how unified the society is versus how fragmented it has become. High social cohesion means strong shared identity, mutual trust, and cooperative behavior across groups.
Higher values indicate a more unified society with stronger bonds between different groups.
Strong shared identity, high trust, and effective cooperation across social groups.
Society is fragmented with low trust between groups, weak shared identity, and limited cooperation.
The frequency of interpersonal and intergroup conflicts per 1,000 people. Includes verbal disputes, resource competition, and organized opposition.
Lower values indicate a more peaceful society, though some conflict can drive positive change.
Frequent disputes, resource competition, and potential for organized group conflicts.
Few disputes, effective conflict resolution, and generally peaceful interactions.
Measures bias in how resources, opportunities, and social treatment are distributed across different groups in the society.
Lower values indicate more equitable treatment across groups. Zero doesn't mean no differences, just no systematic bias.
Significant systematic bias in resource distribution and social treatment favoring certain groups.
Resources and opportunities are distributed relatively equally across all groups.
The rate at which new ideas, technologies, cultural artifacts, and problem-solving approaches emerge in the society.
Higher values indicate a more creative and adaptive society, though rapid innovation can also cause disruption.
Rapid creation of new technologies, cultural works, and problem-solving approaches.
Limited creative output, slow technological progress, and resistance to new approaches.
A measure of the population's overall psychological wellbeing, including stress levels, life satisfaction, sense of purpose, and prevalence of mental health conditions.
Higher values indicate better overall psychological wellbeing across the population.
High life satisfaction, low stress, strong sense of purpose, and few mental health issues.
Widespread stress, low life satisfaction, and higher rates of mental health conditions.
The net change in population size, accounting for births, deaths, immigration, and emigration. Expressed as a percentage change.
Neither inherently good nor bad. Rapid growth strains resources; decline can reduce labor force and innovation. Moderate growth is often most sustainable.
Rapid population increase through high birth rates or immigration, potentially straining resources.
Population decline through low birth rates, emigration, or higher mortality.
The number of distinct social groups that emerge naturally based on shared interests, beliefs, identity, or geography.
Moderate subgroup formation is natural and healthy. Very high values may indicate fragmentation; very low values may indicate forced conformity.
Many distinct social groups with their own identities, norms, and practices.
Few distinct groups, suggesting either strong unity or pressure to conform.
How much the society's language evolves from its starting point, including new vocabulary, grammar shifts, and the emergence of dialects or jargon.
Neither inherently positive nor negative. Rapid drift may reflect cultural creativity or social fragmentation. Slow drift may indicate stability or stagnation.
Rapid language evolution with significant new vocabulary, expressions, and potentially emerging dialects.
Language remains relatively stable with few new terms or structural changes.
How political and governance structures change over time, including shifts in leadership models, decision-making processes, and institutional development.
Moderate evolution suggests healthy institutional adaptation. Very high values may indicate instability; very low values may indicate rigid authoritarianism.
Rapid political change with evolving leadership structures and decision-making processes.
Stable political structures with little change in governance models.
How evenly wealth and resources are distributed across the population. Based on an inverse Gini coefficient — higher values mean more equal distribution.
Higher values indicate more equal wealth distribution. Very high equality may reduce incentives; very low equality can cause social unrest.
Relatively equal distribution of wealth and resources across the population.
Significant wealth concentration with large gaps between rich and poor.
Comparative Analysis Guide
To compare simulations, run a control scenario (all parameters at baseline) and then modify specific variables. Compare metrics side-by-side, noting which changed significantly. Consider whether changes are direct effects of your parameter adjustments or indirect consequences through other metrics.
Parameters don't operate in isolation. Changing one variable often creates cascading effects across multiple metrics. Look for both direct effects (the metric most obviously related to your change) and indirect effects (metrics that changed because of changes in other metrics).
Quantitative metrics simplify complex social realities. They cannot capture individual experiences, cultural nuance, or the full complexity of human relationships. Use these results as starting points for discussion, not as definitive answers about how societies work.