Mathematical Theory of Social Conformity II: Geometric Pinning, Curvature-Induced Quenching, and Curvature-Targeted Control in Anisotropic Logistic Diffusion

We advance a mathematical framework for collective conviction by deriving a continuum theory from the network-based model introduced in . The resulting equation governs the evolution of belief through a degenerate anisotropic logistic–diffusion process, where diffusion slows as conviction saturates. In one spatial dimension, we prove global well-posedness, demonstrate spectral front pinning that arrests the spread of influence at finite depth, and construct explicit traveling-wave solutions. In two dimensions, we uncover a geometric mechanism of curvature-induced quenching, where belief propagation halts along regions of low effective mobility and curvature. Building on this insight, we formulate a variational principle for optimal control under resource constraints. The derived feedback law prescribes how to spatially allocate repression effort to maximize inhibition of front motion, concentrating resources along high-curvature, low-mobility arcs. Numerical simulations validate the theory, illustrating how localized suppression dramatically reduces transverse spread without affecting fast axes. These results bridge analytical modeling with societal phenomena such as protest diffusion, misinformation spread, and institutional resistance, offering a principled foundation for selective intervention policies in structured populations.