Abstract
Grit or perseverance as a factor for student success and life has gained increasing attention. Statistical methods have been the norm in analyzing various aspects of grit, but they do not address the transient and dynamic behavior well. We, for the first time, developed two linear dynamical models that specifically address the feedback structure of a child's desire to achieve a high grade point average (GPA) and the necessary effort that will increase stress between parents and a child. We call the dynamical model as GSES (Goal, Status, Effort & Stress). The two dynamical models incorporate the positive (i.e., achieving a high GPA) and the negative sides (i.e., effort and elevated stress and thus unhappiness) for being gritty or perseverant. Different types of parenting style and a child's characteristics were simulated whether parents and a child are empathetic or stubborn to their expectations and stress (i.e., willing or unwilling to change). Simulations show that when both parents and a child are empathetic to each other's expectation and stress, the most stable situations with minimal stress and effort occur. When a stubborn parent's and a stubborn child were studied together, this resulted in the highest elevation of stress and effort. Stubborn parents and a complying or empathetic child resulted in considerably high stress to a child. Interference from parents may unexpectedly result in a situation in which a child's stress is seriously elevated. The GSES model shows the U-shaped happiness curve (i.e., reciprocal of stress) caused by the increasing and then decreasing goal