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US-20260127561-A1 - METHODS AND SYSTEMS TO INDUCE REFLECTION BASED ON EMOTIONAL VALENCE

US20260127561A1US 20260127561 A1US20260127561 A1US 20260127561A1US-20260127561-A1

Abstract

Methods and systems to induce reflection based on emotional valence are provided. A digital communications network (DCN) is provided to a plurality of members of a population to communication with each other. A first communication is transmitted to an individual member of the plurality of members and a first response is received from the individual member. The first response is analyzed to determine a first level of emotional valence and a second communication is generated and designed to induce reflection in the individual member for a first time. The second communication is transmitted to the individual member and a second response is received. The second response is analyzed to determine a second level of emotional valence.

Inventors

  • Sara Taylor
  • Natalie Sheils
  • Danielle Marria Martin
  • Scott Archibald
  • Duncan Hieu Minh Dam
  • Salomea Anna Jankovic
  • Alex Ruch
  • Steven J. Catani

Assignees

  • Sequelae, Inc.

Dates

Publication Date
20260507
Application Date
20251009

Claims (20)

  1. 1 . A method to induce reflection, the method comprising: providing a digital communications network (DCN) for a plurality of members of a population to communicate with each other; transmitting a first communication by the DCN to an individual member of the plurality of members; receiving a first response to the first communication from the individual member; analyzing the first response to determine a first level of emotional valence of the individual member; generating a second communication by the DCN designed to induce reflection in the individual member for a first time to increase the first level of emotional valence; transmitting the second communication to the individual member; receiving a second response to the second communication from the individual member; and analyzing the second response to determine a second level of emotional valence of the individual member.
  2. 2 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising: generating a third communication by the DCN designed to induce reflection for a second time in the individual member to increase the first level of emotional valence when the second level of emotional valence is less than the first level of emotional valence.
  3. 3 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising: generating a third communication by the DCN designed to induce reflection for a second time in the individual member to increase the first level of emotional valence when a difference between the first level of emotional valence and the second level of emotional valence is less than an emotional valence threshold.
  4. 4 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising: transmitting a request to the individual member to share their reflection in the DCN when a difference between the first level of emotional valence and the second level of emotional valence is greater than an emotional valence threshold.
  5. 5 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising: analyzing at least one of: one or more communications in the DCN by the individual member or biometric test results provided to the DCN by the individual member to generate the first communication and the second communication.
  6. 6 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the first communication and the second communication comprise a first question and a second question, respectively.
  7. 7 . The method of claim 1 , wherein transmitting the first communication includes transmitting an incentive with the first communication.
  8. 8 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the induced reflection in the second communication is designed to induce reflection by the individual member about an action the individual member took.
  9. 9 . The method of claim 3 , wherein the induced reflection in the third communication is designed to induce reflection by the individual member about a cause of the difference between the first level of emotional valence and the second level of emotional valence.
  10. 10 . The method of claim 2 , wherein the induced reflection in the third communication is designed to induce reflection by the individual member about a cause of the second level of emotional valence being less than the first level of emotional valence.
  11. 11 . A method to induce reflection, the method comprising: providing a digital communications network (DCN) for a plurality of members of a population to communicate with each other; transmitting a first communication to an individual member of the plurality of members; receiving a first response to the first communication; analyzing the first response to determine a first level of emotional valence of the individual member; generating a second communication designed to induce reflection in the individual member for a first time to increase the first level of emotional valence; transmitting the second communication to the individual member; receiving a second response to the second communication; analyzing the second response to determine a second level of emotional valence of the individual member; and generating a third communication designed to induce reflection for a second time in the individual member to increase the first level of emotional valence when a difference between the first level of emotional valence and the second level of emotional valence is less than an emotional valence threshold.
  12. 12 . The method of claim 11 , wherein the third communication by the DCN is generated when the second level of emotional valence is less than the first level of emotional valence.
  13. 13 . The method of claim 11 , further comprising: transmitting a request to the individual member to share their reflection in the DCN when a difference between the first level of emotional valence and the second level of emotional valence is greater than an emotional valence threshold.
  14. 14 . The method of claim 11 , further comprising: analyzing at least one of: one or more communications in the DCN by the individual member or biometric test results provided to the DCN by the individual member to generate the first communication and the second communication.
  15. 15 . The method of claim 11 , wherein the first communication and the second communication comprise a first question and a second question, respectively.
  16. 16 . The method of claim 11 , wherein transmitting the first communication includes transmitting an incentive with the first communication.
  17. 17 . The method of claim 11 , wherein the induced reflection in the second communication is designed to induce reflection by the individual member about an action the individual member took.
  18. 18 . The method of claim 11 , wherein the induced reflection in the third communication is designed to induce reflection by the individual member about a cause of the difference between the first level of emotional valence and the second level of emotional valence.
  19. 19 . The method of claim 12 , wherein the induced reflection in the third communication is designed to induce reflection by the individual member about a cause of the second level of emotional valence being less than the first level of emotional valence.
  20. 20 . A system to induce reflection, the system comprising: a computer processor; a data repository in communication with the computer processor and storing: a plurality of communications including a first communication and a second communication; a plurality of responses including a first response and a second response; and a plurality of levels of emotional valence including a first level of emotional valence and a second level of emotional valence; a digital communications network (DCN) which, when executed by the computer processor, provides a network for a plurality of members of a population to interact with each other; and a server controller which, when executed by the computer processor: transmits the first communication from the DCN to an individual member of the plurality of members; receives the first response to the first communication from the individual member; analyzes the first response to determine the first level of emotional valence of the individual member; generates the second communication designed to induce reflection in the individual member for a first time to increase the first level of emotional valence; transmits the second communication to the individual member from the DCN; receives a second response to the second communication from the individual member; and analyzes the second response to determine the second level of the emotional valence.

Description

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 63/705,633, filed on Oct. 10, 2024, which application is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. BACKGROUND Various embodiments relate generally to inducing reflection in an individual member of a population an improving an emotional valence of the individual member via a series of communications to the individual member and responses from the individual member. This section is intended to provide a background or context. The description may include concepts that may be pursued, but have not necessarily been previously conceived or pursued. Unless indicated otherwise, what is described in this section is not deemed prior art to the description and claims and is not admitted to be prior art by inclusion in this section. People often take actions - whether simple, hard, good, or bad, etc. - that impact their health. Regardless, such actions have consequences that can accumulate over time. However, rarely do people associate such actions with consequences. This may be due to, for example, the lack of data to see the consequence (or the data is available in a way that does not connect to the action). Other times, they may not think about the connection between the action and the consequence. Reflecting on their conditions can help people associate actions with their consequences; thus, it is desirable for people to reflect on their actions and potential consequences. Mindfulness, as gained through reflection, is an essential part of self-improvement. Unless someone is aware of their behaviors and how those behaviors impact the things that are important to them, it is very hard to sustain change in their behaviors. Reflection is the process by which people gain that understanding. Reflecting takes conscience effort and is often emotionally draining and cognitively draining. Thus, a person may find it easier to not reflect on such actions. Computers have changed the way people interact. Digital networks, which may include the use of social media, allow individuals to interact with others online and connect many people with a community. The online community can be utilized to help build positive behaviors and encourage people to make improvements in their lives. Computers can also provide a way for people to record their actions and review them later as well as to enable a person to reflect on their activities. What is needed is a way to induce reflection in an individual member of a population and improving an emotional valence of the individual member via a series of communications to the individual member and responses from the individual member. SUMMARY Example aspects of the present disclosure include: A method to induce reflection according to at least one embodiment of the present disclosure comprises providing a digital communications network (DCN) for a plurality of members of a population to communicate with each other; transmitting a first communication by the DCN to an individual member of the plurality of members; receiving a first response to the first communication from the individual member; analyzing the first response to determine a first level of emotional valence of the individual member; generating a second communication by the DCN designed to induce reflection in the individual member for a first time to increase the first level of emotional valence; transmitting the second communication to the individual member; receiving a second response to the second communication from the individual member; and analyzing the second response to determine a second level of emotional valence of the individual member. Any of the aspects herein, further comprising: generating a third communication by the DCN designed to induce reflection for a second time in the individual member to increase the first level of emotional valence when the second level of emotional valence is less than the first level of emotional valence. Any of the aspects herein, further comprising: generating a third communication by the DCN designed to induce reflection for a second time in the individual member to increase the first level of emotional valence when a difference between the first level of emotional valence and the second level of emotional valence is less than an emotional valence threshold. Any of the aspects herein, further comprising: transmitting a request to the individual member to share their reflection in the DCN when a difference between the first level of emotional valence and the second level of emotional valence is greater than an emotional valence threshold. Any of the aspects herein, further comprising: analyzing at least one of: one or more communications in the DCN by the individual member or biometric test results provided to the DCN by the individual member to generate the first communication and the second communication. Any of the aspects herein, wherein the first communication and the