The Eruptive Manifestation of Model–Reality Mismatch: A Unified Structural Framework for High-Activation Episodes in Bounded Adaptive Systems

This paper presents a structural framework for understanding high-activation episodes in bounded adaptive systems, termed the Eruptive Manifestation of Model–Reality Mismatch (EMMRM). The framework reconceptualizes the phenomenon commonly labeled "anger" by shifting the interpretive frame from moral-evaluative to diagnostic-structural. EMMRM arises when model–reality discrepancy exceeds tolerance thresholds while carrying boundary significance—threatening identity, control, or essential constraints. The formal expression A = f(D, B, R⁻¹) organizes relationships between discrepancy (D), boundary weight (B), and regulatory capacity (R). The paper addresses: structural preconditions for activation; dual manifestation patterns (acute eruption and chronic corrosive leakage); the paradox of pleasurable activation and state-dependence; masking of vulnerability states; cognitive effects following arousal-performance relationships; cultural formatting mechanisms; and transformation pathways converting activation into adaptive work. A key contribution is demonstrating structural equivalence across radically different systems—from thunderstorms and supernovae to immune inflammation and AI systems—establishing EMMRM-like dynamics as a convergent solution to maintaining organization under perturbation. This work is part of a broader research program formalizing "emotions" as system-level signals, complementing the Pre-Integrative Rejection Principle (PIRP) and the Comparative Asymmetry Principle (CAP). Keywords: model–reality mismatch, bounded adaptive systems, boundary violation, high-activation states, regulatory capacity, discharge pathways, cultural formatting, structural signal theory, adaptive reconfiguration, appraisal theory, emotion regulation