A simple model with peer pressure: the antisocial behavior case

Abstract

Antisocial behaviors such as consumption of addictive substances and eating disorders are modeled using a SIR model. We propose a function l(y(t)) that describes the relapse-recovery-recycling rate. l(y(t)) describes either strengthening or weakening of convictions of recovered individuals to relapse in antisocial behaviors. We show that a wide variety of functions can induce the existence of multiple equilibria points for R0 < 1 which is a catastrophic scenario for the susceptible population. Finally, conditions for avoiding a sudden and catastrophic jump in the number of individuals with antisocial behaviors are given.