Thursday, January 14, 2010

Delving deeper into the happiness function: The Concentration Factor

Remember my Happiness function?? I am restating the equation over here:

state of mind = CF*function(Variable 'n') + (1 - CF)*function (Nebula 'n-1')

For a detailed explanation of the theory that I developed please click here

Today I thought of making an attempt to understand this concentration factor 'CF'. And try to explain my current out of the world state in my next blog based on this explanation.
Let me first write down the salient features of CF:
1) CF is not constant, it varies with time, for some it is controllable
2) CF as a variable is not exogenous, in fact it is endogenous and depends on the variable 'n'

Point 2 requires some explanation. There are certain things which while dominating your mind (i.e. being the nth variable and not being in the nebula) somehow demands getter attention. Hence the concentration factor for these variables would be close to one. May be decoupling concentration factor from each variable is a method which the "sanyasi" practices. The question that immediately comes is how is this CF dependent to the variable. From here on I will try to be less mathematical and more practical.
Lets say there are total 'k' variables that matters in your life. This 'k' includes the persons that matter in your life, the incidents that shape your life, your career, and an innumerable number of other things. More importantly this number 'k' is changing as new things start affecting in your life. I define a new variable 'Size(n)' as the amount by which the nth variable is "important in"/"affecting" your life.Can I say:

Life = SUMMATION(Size(n)) n = 1 to k

Hence I say:

Concentration factor CF = (Size(n)/Life)

Here I will amend the Happiness equation a little as follows:

state of mind = Magnification Factor*CF*function(Variable 'n') + (1 - CF)*function (Nebula 'n-1')

Where Magnification Factor is a new variable which is a constant for a specific person. This factor is introduced to stress the greater importance to the variable which is in the mind and not in the nebula. Perhaps with meditation one can increase this Magnification Factor.

Clearly the bigger the Size(n) for a variable 'n' more is the concentration factor. This equation is well in line with my previous argument that for a sanyasi who has acquired salvation his CF = 1. This is because he has only one variable affecting him and hence k=1. (Please check with the equation).

Alas the story of dissecting happiness just keeps on increasing. The moment I deciphered the code of one variable CF, another variable "Size(n)" comes into the picture. To make matter difficult this size function is a function of time as well. The importance of a particular thing in your life keeps on readjusting with time. Just think about the importance of that cricket bat in your childhood, and you will understand how Size(cricket bat) has kept on changing in your life.

2 comments:

KC said...

I understand :)
Okay, I'll await another post for some illustrative examples. Assume a two-factor life model.

E.g: Soumyajeet's life = Gym + money

Basically a small example to depict the endogenous nature of your coefficient (concentration factor) will help clarify further, and aid in building a larger model.

I also think 90% of a person's objective function is determined by less than 10 factors. So using an 80-20 type rule, a simple working solver model for an average human might be possible to construct.

Soumyajyoti said...

@KC..Hence I have posted the next post trying to put an illustrative example :).