Carrero, G, Makin, J and Malinowski, P (2021) A mathematical model for the dynamics of happiness. Mathematical Biosciences and Engineering, 19 (2). ISSN 1547-1063

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Abstract

Positive psychology recognizes happiness as a construct comprising hedonic and eudaimonic well-being dimensions. Integrating these components and a set of theory-led assumptions, we propose a mathematical model, given by a system of nonlinear ordinary differential equations, to describe the dynamics of a person’s happiness over time. The mathematical model offers insights into the role of emotions for happiness and why we struggle to attain sustainable happiness and tread the hedonic treadmill oscillating around a relative stable level of well-being. The model also indicates that lasting happiness may be achievable by developing constant eudaimonic emotions or human altruistic qualities that overcome the limits of the homeostatic hedonic system; in mathematical terms, this process is expressed as distinct dynamical bifurcations. This mathematical description is consistent with the idea that eudaimonic well-being is beyond the boundaries of hedonic homeostasis.

Item Type:	Article
Uncontrolled Keywords:	0102 Applied Mathematics, 0903 Biomedical Engineering, 0904 Chemical Engineering
Subjects:	B Philosophy. Psychology. Religion > BF Psychology Q Science > Q Science (General) Q Science > QA Mathematics
Divisions:	Psychology (from Sep 2019)
Publisher:	Aims Press
Date Deposited:	14 Jan 2022 12:08
Last Modified:	14 Jan 2022 12:15
DOI or ID number:	10.3934/mbe.2022094
URI:	https://researchonline.ljmu.ac.uk/id/eprint/16060

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