Aviad Heifetz (The Open University of Israel)
Website: www.openu.ac.il/personal_sites/Aviad-Heifetz.html
Title: Gratification and flourishing: well-being in interaction Paper Abstract: A long tradition of thought identifies two distinct but inter-related dimensions of well being - gratification and flourishing. Relying on insights from relational psychoanalytic theory, we devise a modeling approach based on an analogy with electric circuits, where gratification is represented by electric current and flourishing by electric power. We explore how the latter is influenced non-monotonically by challenges and their perceived values, as represented in the model by loads and resistance.
Further psychoanalytic conceptualizations suggest how to extend the electric circuits metaphor for modeling mutual influence among related individuals. This extension gives rise to a definition of a social equilibrium. We prove existence, and show that there might exist 'flourishing traps'- social equilibria dominated by other social equilibria with enhanced flourishing for everybody and with no decrease in gratification. We discuss how 'flourishing traps' differ from classical coordination failures, and the implied nature of guidance for public policy. paper jointly with Enrico Minelli and Peter Cramton (U Maryland)
Website: www.cramton.umd.edu
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