A Phenomenological Model of Social Success as a Non-Equilibrium Phenomenon

We propose a phenomenological model that describes social success as a non-equilibrium phenomenon. A success index Q is formulated as a function of individual ability, socially required baseline ability, field- level social attention, and invested resources. The model demonstrates that success does not emerge under equilibrium conditions but only when a specific non-equilibrium criterion is satisfied. In particular, the framework provides a quantitative explanation for why derivative or imitative efforts ("second movers" or "copycat strategies") face disproportionately severe difficulty, independent of effort or diligence.