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A mathematical model of sentimental dynamics accounting for marital dissolution.


ABSTRACT:

Background

Marital dissolution is ubiquitous in western societies. It poses major scientific and sociological problems both in theoretical and therapeutic terms. Scholars and therapists agree on the existence of a sort of second law of thermodynamics for sentimental relationships. Effort is required to sustain them. Love is not enough.

Methodology/principal findings

Building on a simple version of the second law we use optimal control theory as a novel approach to model sentimental dynamics. Our analysis is consistent with sociological data. We show that, when both partners have similar emotional attributes, there is an optimal effort policy yielding a durable happy union. This policy is prey to structural destabilization resulting from a combination of two factors: there is an effort gap because the optimal policy always entails discomfort and there is a tendency to lower effort to non-sustaining levels due to the instability of the dynamics.

Conclusions/significance

These mathematical facts implied by the model unveil an underlying mechanism that may explain couple disruption in real scenarios. Within this framework the apparent paradox that a union consistently planned to last forever will probably break up is explained as a mechanistic consequence of the second law.

SUBMITTER: Rey JM 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC2847599 | biostudies-literature | 2010 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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A mathematical model of sentimental dynamics accounting for marital dissolution.

Rey José-Manuel JM  

PloS one 20100331 3


<h4>Background</h4>Marital dissolution is ubiquitous in western societies. It poses major scientific and sociological problems both in theoretical and therapeutic terms. Scholars and therapists agree on the existence of a sort of second law of thermodynamics for sentimental relationships. Effort is required to sustain them. Love is not enough.<h4>Methodology/principal findings</h4>Building on a simple version of the second law we use optimal control theory as a novel approach to model sentimenta  ...[more]

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