A model of some phenomenon that is constructed through agents and their interactions with one another. They are uniquely equipped to model complex systems and are usually easier to understand than equivalent mathematical models.

Agent-Based Model

A computational entity (object or individual) with properties and actions that behaves autonomously.

University of Michigan - Ann Arbor

A system composed of many distributed elements whose aggregate properties cannot be predicted by observing the behavior of an element. Furthermore, the observable manifestations or 'forms' of a complex system may only represent superficial aspects, with its true 'essence' or fundamental nature remaining hidden or less apparent beneath the surface.

Complex Systems

Badham, Jennifer. Agent-Based Modelling for the Self Learner. MIT Press., 2015. 

Agent-Based Modelling for the Self Learner

References about Complex Systems

Agents 

The appearance of structures, patterns, and properties through the interaction of elements.

Emergence

Shared or group intelligence that emerges from the collaboration, collective efforts, and competition of many individuals. When groups of people work together, they create intelligence that cannot exist on an individual level.

Collective Intelligence

How a system behaves over time through stocks and flows. Very helpful to understanding complex systems.

Dynamics ( systems ) 

Collective action is the actions/behaviors of a group of individuals working towards the same goal or common objective. The individuals tend to be like-minded in the way that they believe that the completion of their goal(s) will make their life better.

Collective Action

Computational models of complex systems are computer simulations designed to study how system-level behaviors and macroscopic patterns emerge from the interactions of many individual components. By encoding the rules of interaction at the micro-level, these models allow researchers to explore complex dynamics and emergent phenomena that are often impossible to predict using traditional mathematical equations alone.

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