The Positive Experience Principle: Forecasting Conscious Choices with AI Embeddings
arXiv (Cornell University) July 18, 2026 Zheng Su, Mingyan Fang
The authors propose the Positive Experience Principle (PEP) as a unifying framework for motivated behavior in conscious systems, addressing the lack of a universal predictive principle in consciousness science. They define a scalar metric, Positive Experience Value (PEV), derived from physical configurations in their earlier Universal Consciousness Code (UCC) theory, which quantifies the tendency of conscious systems to move toward states of higher positive subjective experience. The PEP aims to bridge physics, neuroscience, and psychology, suggesting that diverse behaviors stem from a fundamental drive to optimize PEV. It offers testable predictions for conscious system dynamics, potentially leading to a unified science of behavior.