Structural Communication Theory: Damage Minimization through Selective Interaction and Symmetric Refusal

This paper presents a structural theory of communication that departs from prevailing views of dialogue as a moral imperative or persuasive technique. Communication failure is treated as structurally inevitable; the central problem lies not in failure itself, but in the absence of mechanisms to manage damage after breakdown. By analyzing communication across short-, medium-, and long-term temporal scales, the paper demonstrates that many conflicts arise from temporal misalignment and asymmetric adjustment demands rather than from poor intent or insufficient effort. It introduces symmetric refusal rights, establishing that both the party receiving explanations and the party providing adjustment retain equal legitimacy to discontinue communication when continuation becomes damage-amplifying rather than viability-preserving. The framework further argues that selective communication combined with strategic distance maintenance is the only effective strategy for minimizing long-term structural harm. Contrary to norms demanding perpetual dialogue, indiscriminate communication exhausts finite adjustment resources and accelerates irreversibility. This work applies principles from Yang Jihoon Dynamics, the Refusal Operator framework, and Yang Jihoon Dynamic Structure to interpersonal, organizational, and system-level communication, while remaining diagnostic rather than prescriptive. It does not propose universal rules or normative solutions; instead, it provides operational criteria for evaluating when communication preserves structure and when discontinuation is the more responsible choice. Keywords: communication theory, refusal, damage minimization, temporal scales, structural viability, selective interaction