The behavior-adjusting psychotechnologies involve cognitive shifts that allow one to accomplish behaviors originally not possible. Since behaviors are outputs from psycho-motivational landscapes, in order to output a new behavior, the psycho-motivational landscape must be changed. A psycho-motivational landscape is a cognitive map of all possible behaviors and their associated costs and benefits over time. The map will net out the costs against the benefits. The highest peaks on the map will represent optimalities where the benefits are maximally greater than the costs. Naturally, these calculations must factor in probabilities, intensities, and time-delay discounting. A higher probability of a benefit will naturally represent a higher peak than a low probability benefit, all else being equal. A “near future” benefit will also represent a higher peak than a “distant future” benefit, all else being equal.
A benefit might be calculated with a combination of probability mathematics and financial discounting mathematical techniques in the following way:
Present Value of Future Benefit = (Future Benefit Intensity)*(Duration)*(% Likelihood)*[1/(1+discount rate)^(time delay)]
The psychotechnology of endurance involves behavioral embracement of an ongoing negatively valenced affect because one believes that there is a positively valenced affect of greater value waiting on the other side after the period of endurance has elapsed. Endurance, hence, is based on an optimization function that weighs future benefits against present ongoing costs. In order to endure, one must cognitively actualize an increase in the expected future benefits of endurance so as to make the behavior of endurance optimal. This means one must meditate on the nature, likelihood, and magnitude of those future benefits in such a way that one cognitively increases the aggregate value of those future benefits until they surpass present ongoing costs.
The psychotechnology of courage involves behavioral embracement of the potential for a negatively valenced affect because one believes that there is a positively valenced affect of greater value waiting on the other side after the period of courage has elapsed. Courage, hence, is based on an optimization function that weighs future benefits against potential costs in the present. In order to be courageous, one must cognitively actualize an increase in the expected future benefits of endurance so as to make the behavior of courage optimal. This means one must meditate on the nature, likelihood, and magnitude of those future benefits in such a way that one cognitively increases the aggregate value of those future benefits until they surpass potential costs in the present.