A Mathematical Evidence of the Therapeutic Effect of Relaxation
Year: 2018
Type: article
Abstract: In this paper we present a mathematical proof of the positive effects of relaxation therapy. We mathematically demonstrate that relaxation, practiced during a period of days, could relieve stress and even make us feel joyful. Based on our tri-transactional theory of stress [1], our demonstration uses the Ktiri-stress equation (S = PSS + ST) and the positive-negative stimuli notions. Our evidence of the positive effect of relaxation is based on the psychological fact that this therapy generates positive and reduces negative stimuli numbers. This phenomenon, meaning that a person practicing it will be able over time to be exposed to more positive and less negative stimuli, is mathematically expressed by using increasing and decreasing mathematical functions (x = at + b). This demonstration is applied to an example of a stress situation in which a person, supposed so much stressed, is much less exposed to positive stimuli which could fight his stress, and much more to negative stimuli. From this demonstration, which was possible by using mathematical notions, we deduced and developed mathematically two concepts. These latter, we called crisis and critical stress periods, correspond to intervals of time at the end of which the value of a person stress state starts to be reduced and to become neutral respectively. The importance of this study lies in the possibility to use mathematics in psychotherapy. Before doing any empirical researches to verify the effectiveness of a new proposed technique, researchers should check if they could also mathematically demonstrate its therapeutic effect. This study proves another time that psychology could cohabit with mathematics.
Author: Ktiri Fouad
Language: English
Topic: Student Stress and Coping
Subfield: Developmental and Educational Psychology
Field: Psychology
Domain: Social Sciences
Open Access status: diamond
OpenAlex ID: W2897211583