Preprint

Triadic Psychological Architecture and Triadic Balance Framework: A Theoretical Account of Human Motivation, Regulatory States, and the Conditions for Motivational Integration (Main Paper)

Series Paper 1 of 7

This article is a preprint and has not been certified by peer review [What does this mean?].

Author(s) / Creator(s)

Mabutas, Mario Jr.

Abstract / Description

This paper presents the Triadic Psychological Architecture (TPA) — a theoretical motivational model identifying three neurobiologically distinct domains: SPAA (Self-Preservation and Appetitive Acquisition), AEACFO (Affective Empathy and Affective Care For Others), and ECA (Epistemic Curiosity and Analysis). These domains are modulated by a global regulatory state (iSPAA threat mode versus sSPAA safety mode). The paper introduces the Triadic Balance Framework (TBF) as its applied extension, thirteen testable predictions, seven falsification criteria, the iSPAA Default Hypothesis, the Co-Regularity Baseline Shift (CBS) mechanism, and the Application Target Principle. Philosophical extensions (Anchored Wellbeing Ethics, Convergent Viability Ethics, Configurational Epistemology) are treated concisely here and developed fully in Paper 6. Current epistemic status: 8/10 internal coherence, 3/10 empirical validation.

Keyword(s)

TPA TBF Triadic Psychological Architecture Triadic Balance Framework SPAA AEACFO ECA regulatory states iSPAA sSPAA Anchored Wellbeing Ethics AWE motivational integration

Persistent Identifier

Date of first publication

2026-04-10

Publisher

PsychArchives

Is version of

Citation

  • 2
    2026-04-10
    Global terminology update: ACA renamed to ECA throughout. iSPAA Default Hypothesis added as named subsection with attachment-reconciliation argument. Cross-reference to Paper 6 Coherence Analysis addendum. Minor precision improvements.
  • 1
    2026-03-25
  • Author(s) / Creator(s)
    Mabutas, Mario Jr.
  • PsychArchives acquisition timestamp
    2026-04-10T07:44:52Z
  • Made available on
    2026-03-25T12:25:56Z
  • Made available on
    2026-04-10T07:44:52Z
  • Date of first publication
    2026-04-10
  • Abstract / Description
    This paper presents the Triadic Psychological Architecture (TPA) — a theoretical motivational model identifying three neurobiologically distinct domains: SPAA (Self-Preservation and Appetitive Acquisition), AEACFO (Affective Empathy and Affective Care For Others), and ECA (Epistemic Curiosity and Analysis). These domains are modulated by a global regulatory state (iSPAA threat mode versus sSPAA safety mode). The paper introduces the Triadic Balance Framework (TBF) as its applied extension, thirteen testable predictions, seven falsification criteria, the iSPAA Default Hypothesis, the Co-Regularity Baseline Shift (CBS) mechanism, and the Application Target Principle. Philosophical extensions (Anchored Wellbeing Ethics, Convergent Viability Ethics, Configurational Epistemology) are treated concisely here and developed fully in Paper 6. Current epistemic status: 8/10 internal coherence, 3/10 empirical validation.
    en
  • Publication status
    other
  • Review status
    notReviewed
  • Persistent Identifier
    https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.12034/17152.2
  • Persistent Identifier
    https://doi.org/10.23668/psycharchives.21810
  • Language of content
    eng
  • Publisher
    PsychArchives
  • Is part of series
    Triadic Psychological Architecture / Triadic Balance Framework Paper Series
  • Is version of
    https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.18852636
  • Is related to
    https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.12034/17153.2
  • Is related to
    https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.12034/17154.2
  • Is related to
    https://www.psycharchives.org/handle/20.500.12034/17190
  • Is related to
    https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.12034/17155.2
  • Is related to
    https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.12034/17156.2
  • Is related to
    https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.12034/17157.2
  • Keyword(s)
    TPA
  • Keyword(s)
    TBF
  • Keyword(s)
    Triadic Psychological Architecture
  • Keyword(s)
    Triadic Balance Framework
  • Keyword(s)
    SPAA
  • Keyword(s)
    AEACFO
  • Keyword(s)
    ECA
  • Keyword(s)
    regulatory states
  • Keyword(s)
    iSPAA
  • Keyword(s)
    sSPAA
  • Keyword(s)
    Anchored Wellbeing Ethics
  • Keyword(s)
    AWE
  • Keyword(s)
    motivational integration
  • Dewey Decimal Classification number(s)
    150
  • Title
    Triadic Psychological Architecture and Triadic Balance Framework: A Theoretical Account of Human Motivation, Regulatory States, and the Conditions for Motivational Integration (Main Paper)
    en
  • Alternative title
    Series Paper 1 of 7
    en
  • DRO type
    preprint