Trusting norms in normative multi-agent systems

Abstract

Research in normative multi-agent systems (NorMAS) have progressed from norm representation towards investigation of mechanisms in social sciences to support for agents' tasks in open multi-agent systems (open-MAS) settings. Open-MAS characteristics pose new challenges in regulating and coordinating agents' behavior. Norms are no longer assumed to be built into agents during design time, but emerged from interactions with other agents. These developments entail the needs to discover other factors that influence agents' reasoning and decision-making for norms execution in open systems. In this paper, we explore and review the general concepts of norms in normative multi-agent systems, its classifications and life cycles. We then discuss and propose norm's trust as an important factor which influences an agent's norms compliance behavior and norms stability in normative multi-agent systems.