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
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.
Email: sprott@juno.physics.wisc.edu
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