Ups and downs: A dynamical systems model of human affective fluctuations

8/3/2001


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Table of Contents

Ups and downs: A dynamical systems model of human affective fluctuations

A definition of subjective well being

Some odd things about subjective well being

Most people assume that the external circumstances of others are powerful determinants of subjective well being, in spite of the fact that such circumstances would have little effect on their own SWB (Schkade & Kahneman, 1999).

The beginnings of an explanation

This suggests an equation

PPT Slide

A general linear expression including all such effects is: d2x/dt2 + pdx/dt + qx = f(t)

Winning the Lottery

Intermittent Reinforcement

Random Events

Real Life

This is a simple, linear, ordinary differential equation

PPT Slide

A disadvantage and two advantages

Hypothesis 1

Hypothesis 2

Hypothesis 3

A Plausible Empirical Test

Bibliography

Schkade, D. A. & Kahneman, D. (1999). Does living in California make people happy? A focusing illusion in judgments of life satisfaction. Psychological Science, 9(5) 340-346. Schwartz, N. & Strack, F. (1999). Reports of subjective well-being: Judgmental processes and their methodological implications. In Kahneman, D., Diener, E. & Schwarz, N. (eds.) Well-being: The foundations of hedonic psychology. New York: Russell Sage.

Author: none none

Email: sprott@juno.physics.wisc.edu

Home Page: https://sprott.physics.wisc.edu/