Title Evolutionary Essence of Romance Intellectual Overflow, Fractal Tuning, and the Accretion of Civilizational Rituals

【Abstract】This paper proposes a cross-disciplinary evolutionary model of "Romance." It posits that romance is not merely an emotional overflow but a heuristic algorithm developed by the carbon-based neural system to simplify "infinite-variable calculations." By analyzing the mechanisms of "Intellectual Overflow" and "Fractal Tuning," this study demonstrates how romance evolved from an individual signal-filtering process into a collective accretion of culture and entertainment within civilization. Furthermore, the paper explores the functional role of highly specialized groups (such as non-procreative populations) in the algorithmic upgrading of civilizational aesthetics.________________________________________I. Introduction: From Lyrical Narrative to Computational Model• Background: Traditional literary definitions of romance are shrouded in ambiguity ("knowing without knowing"), leading to a long-term undervaluation of its status in evolutionary history.• Core Thesis: Romance is an inevitable byproduct of intelligence reaching a specific evolutionary threshold—a "perceptual compensation" and "information compression" used by the neural system when processing complex biological data.II. Theoretical Framework: The Neuro-Computational Essence of Romance1. Heuristic Algorithms and Energy Efficiency: Faced with infinite environmental variables, the neural system develops "Romantic Aesthetics" as a noise-reduction filter to avoid computational overload.2. Perceptual Compensation Mechanism: In the presence of information asymmetry, the brain deploys redundant processing power (Intellectual Overflow) to supplement fragmented signals into a complete "Aesthetic Model."III. Dynamic Mechanisms: Fractal Tuning of Similar Variations1. Non-Violent Tuning Theory: This proposes that romance functions as a non-violent process for aligning signals between individuals, moving from an initial state of potential rejection towards primary attraction.2. Consonance of Fractal Variations: The theory suggests that romance does not focus on absolute differences but on "variations within similarity." Individuals may exhibit subtle, unique traits or behaviors (such as "persistence after failure") that create a form of algorithmic resonance, or consonance, with a potential partner.IV. Evolutionary Costs and the Specialization Trap1. Romantic Organs and the Handicap Principle: Highly specialized traits used in romance, such as creating poetry or art, can increase the precision of mate filtering. However, these traits often come with high energy costs and can make individuals vulnerable to "predation" from individuals who operate purely on rational or social strategies.2. Mission of Non-Procreative Groups: This section explores the potential role of groups within a society that do not primarily focus on biological reproduction. It suggests that these groups might contribute to the refinement of civilizational aesthetics and the quality of information through the output of intellectual energy.V. Civilizational Dimension: The Accretion of Mating Rituals into Culture1. The Essence of Culture: Culture is presented as a collective outcome of individuals externalizing and archiving their mating rituals. This collective storage helps individuals save the "tuning costs" that would otherwise be required for individual romantic interactions.2. Standardization and the Death of Romance: The argument is made that once romantic expressions become standardized and mass-produced as "cultural products," they lose their original function as a "high-cost signal." Instead, they are transformed into a more generic form of entertainment.VI. Conclusion: High-Level Romance as a Prelude to Innovation• The Mature Form: The most advanced form of romance is seen as the creation of non-standardized artistic expressions, generated from surplus intellectual energy during periods of rest, while simultaneously fulfilling responsibilities for the development of the group.• Summary: Romance is characterized as the "prelude to innovation," representing the final stage of exploring "knowing without knowing" before an individual or society settles into a structured, rational order.________________________________________【Selected References】• Salucco, A. D. (2026). A Conceptual Model for the Evolution of Life and Civilization. Zenodo.