The Interpersonal Trap: Structural Negligence in Relational Intensity — A Zero Leap Theory Analysis of When Trying Harder Pushes People Away

This preprint applies Zero Leap Theory (ZLT) to interpersonal dynamics, formalizing the “Interpersonal Trap”: increasing relational intensity against partially or fully closed consent gates predicts rising resistance, withdrawal, and structural dissipation. The paper introduces the Relational Exit Coercion Index (rECI) as a domain instantiation of the Exit Coercion Index (ECI) defined in Paper 12, proves a Non-Exitability regime theorem, and provides the IAS-INTERPERSONAL audit protocol and a Via Negativa intervention rule (“when gates are closed, stop intervening first”). Scientific position: This is a structural systems analysis, not a psychological personality theory, not a therapeutic protocol, and not a normative claim about who is right. It provides ordinal, falsifiable predictions and a regime classifier (Green/Yellow/Red) for consent viability under exit constraints.