The HTA Solution

The Happiness-Trust Assessment (HTA) asks a different question:

“Can your system confirm its own operation?”

Grounded in Empathy Systems Theory (EST), the HTA measures trust positioning as the operational variable determining whether empathy infrastructure can generate and recognize the happiness signal.

Core Innovation: The HTA provides a diagnostic map of where function is intact or degraded—enabling mechanism-matched intervention.

Four Assessment Domains

HAPPINESS-TRUST ASSESSMENT (HTA)
│
├── Domain A: Self-Trust (ST)
│   ├── A1: Signal Recognition
│   ├── A2: Signal Acceptance
│   └── A3: Signal Integration
│
├── Domain B: Other-Trust (OT)
│   ├── B1: Reception Capacity
│   ├── B2: Attribution Accuracy
│   └── B3: Relational Safety
│
├── Domain C: Effort Load (EL)
│   ├── C1: Maintenance Effort
│   ├── C2: Monitoring Frequency
│   └── C3: Amplification Need
│
├── Domain D: Coherence Confirmation (CC)
│   ├── D1: Settledness
│   ├── D2: Completeness
│   └── D3: Stability
│
└── Composite Indices
    ├── Trust Modulation Index (TMI)
    ├── Infrastructure Status Index (ISI)
    └── Happiness Function Score (HFS)

Domain Definitions

Domain A: Self-Trust (ST) The degree to which an individual accepts their own emotional signals as valid data.

• A1 Signal Recognition: Can the person identify what they are feeling?
• A2 Signal Acceptance: Does the person accept identified feelings as valid?
• A3 Signal Integration: Do accepted feelings inform coherent self-narrative?

Low Self-Trust Presentation: “I don’t know what I feel” or “I feel something but I can’t trust it”

Domain B: Other-Trust (OT) The degree to which an individual accepts others’ emotional signals as meaningful.

• B1 Reception Capacity: Can the person receive emotional signals from others?
• B2 Attribution Accuracy: Does the person accurately interpret others’ signals?
• B3 Relational Safety: Does the person feel safe responding to received signals?

Low Other-Trust Presentation: “I can’t tell what they really mean” or “It’s not safe to respond to what I perceive”

Domain C: Effort Load (EL) The amount of work required to generate, maintain, or recognize positive affective states.

• C1 Maintenance Effort: How much work to sustain positive feelings?
• C2 Monitoring Frequency: How often does the person check whether they’re happy?
• C3 Amplification Need: Does happiness require intensification to register?

High Effort Load Presentation: “I have to work constantly to feel okay” or “Happiness feels fragile”

Domain D: Coherence Confirmation (CC) Whether happiness feels settled, complete, and stable when present.

• D1 Settledness: Does happiness feel resolved or tentative?
• D2 Completeness: Does happiness feel whole or partial?
• D3 Stability: Does happiness persist or require constant renewal?

Low Coherence Presentation: “Even when I’m happy, something feels unfinished” or “Happiness doesn’t quite land”

Composite Indices

Trust Modulation Index (TMI) Overall capacity for trust to enable frictionless emotional processing.

TMI = (ST + OT) / 2

Infrastructure Status Index (ISI) Overall operational status of empathy infrastructure.

ISI = (ST + OT + EL + CC) / 4

Happiness Function Score (HFS) Composite index of happiness function integrating all domains.

HFS = MIN(ST, OT, EL, CC) × AVG(ST, OT, EL, CC)

The HFS mirrors FET structure—minimum constrains overall function. Degradation in any domain limits total capacity.

Clinical Thresholds

Thresholds require empirical validation and clinical calibration.

Diagnostic Profiles

The HTA generates diagnostic profiles based on domain score patterns:

Clinical Decision Framework

HTA Administration
        │
        ▼
Calculate Domain Scores (ST, OT, EL, CC)
        │
        ▼
Calculate Composite Indices (TMI, ISI, HFS)
        │
        ▼
Identify Diagnostic Profile
        │
        ▼
Match Intervention to Mechanism
        │
        ├── Self-Trust Deficit → Interoceptive/Authenticity Work
        ├── Other-Trust Deficit → Attachment/Relational Work
        ├── High Effort Load → Trust Restoration/Monitoring Reduction
        ├── Low Coherence → Integration/Narrative Work
        ├── Global Deficit → Staged Comprehensive Restoration
        └── Euphoria Gap → Psychoeducation/Expectation Calibration
        │
        ▼
Implement Targeted Intervention
        │
        ▼
Reassess with HTA (Track Domain Change)

Progress Monitoring

Primary Progress Indicators:

• Effort Load increase = trust modulation improving
• Domain convergence = balanced restoration
• HFS increase = overall function improvement

Warning Indicators:

• HFS increase without EL improvement = possible performance, not restoration
• Single domain improvement without others = incomplete restoration
• CC increase without ST/OT improvement = fragile gains

Treatment Completion Criteria:

• HFS ≥ 36 (Optimal range)
• No domain below 5.0
• EL stable without intervention support
• Subjective report of effortless happiness confirmation

Relationship to EST Architecture

Recommended Assessment Battery:

1. HTA (phenomenological access, clinical utility)
2. CAEI Assessment (infrastructure structure)
3. Emotional Precision Battery (functional output)

Sample Items

Domain A: Self-Trust

• “I know what I’m feeling most of the time.”
• “When I have an emotional reaction, I trust it as valid information.”
• “My feelings make sense to me as part of who I am.”

Domain B: Other-Trust

• “I can sense what others are feeling without them telling me.”
• “When I perceive someone’s emotions, I generally trust my perception.”
• “I feel safe responding emotionally to what I sense in others.”

Domain C: Effort Load (Reverse scored)

• “Feeling good requires constant effort from me.”
• “I frequently check whether I’m actually happy.”
• “I need intense experiences to feel genuinely good.”

Domain D: Coherence Confirmation

• “When I feel happy, the feeling is settled and complete.”
• “My happiness feels whole, not partial.”
• “Once I feel good, the feeling sustains itself.”

What the HTA Provides

For Clinicians:

• Diagnostic precision beyond happiness levels
• Mechanism-matched intervention targeting
• Progress tracking through trust restoration
• Prevention through early strain detection

For Clients:

• Understanding of happiness function vs. happiness pursuit
• Specific areas for growth identified
• Realistic expectations about change process
• Validation that “effort” itself is diagnostic information

For Research:

• Operationalization of EST happiness model
• Tool for testing theoretical predictions
• Bridge between theory and clinical application

Core Clinical Message

“The question is not ‘How happy are you?’ but ‘Can your system confirm its own operation?’ When trust enables frictionless flow, happiness announces itself. When trust is degraded, no amount of effort produces the signal you’re seeking. The HTA identifies where trust needs restoration so happiness can emerge rather than be manufactured.”