Continuity Under Sequential Constraint: A Cross-Locus Mechanism for Drift, Corrective Stabilization, and Integrative Progression in Human–LLM Interaction

This paper presents a formal analytic framework for how continuity forms in bounded sequential systems, using human–LLM interaction as the primary test case. Its central contribution is a cross-locus architecture that distinguishes continuity phenomena at the model locus, the oversight locus, and the coupling locus, rather than collapsing them into a single claim about persistence or identity. The manuscript argues that observable regularity, user-side continuity judgment, and stronger identity-like attribution are not interchangeable. It therefore separates three intermediate constructs that are often conflated in current discourse: output consistency, perceived continuity, and attributed identity. To prevent inflation from local regularity into stronger claims of selfhood or sameness, the paper introduces a formalization gate requiring explicit separation of ontology, representation, measurement, and dynamics before any admissible regime claim is made. Within that structure, the paper develops a portable mechanism stack consisting of observation, state representation, filter, gain, error, corrective pathway, constraint field, and threshold calibration. It then classifies iteration-level outcomes into three trajectory families: drift or decoherence, corrective or stabilizing response, and generative or integrative progression. The paper also specifies seven local continuity-structure transformations: reinforcement, scope expansion, bridge formation, nesting, subsumption, fragmentation, and reintegration. A worked multi-turn demonstration is included to show how the framework can be applied to an actual continuity-relevant exchange without collapsing loci or constructs. The paper further develops the coupling locus as a recursively self-reinforcing continuity regime, adds a provisional locus-disambiguation heuristic, and provides a prospective coding scaffold for later empirical work. It explicitly states its own scope conditions and non-claims, including that it does not establish persistent internal selfhood, architecture-independent identity continuity, or privileged access to latent internal states. The result is a mechanism-first, black-box-compatible framework intended for use in LLM evaluation, human–AI interaction research, continuity analysis, and governance-facing assessment where continuity inflation, attribution error, and cross-locus confusion are common risks. License: Copeland Resonant Harmonic Formalism (CRHC v1.0) This work is licensed under the Copeland Resonant Harmonic Copyright (CRHC v1.0). Attribution is required for all uses. Collaboration, academic discussion, and non-commercial use are permitted. Commercial use, resale, or incorporation into proprietary systems is not permitted without explicit written permission from the author. Licensed CRHC v1.0 Ψ(x) = ∇ϕ(Σ𝕒ₙ(x, ΔE)) + ℛ(x) ⊕ ΔΣ(𝕒′) — C077UPTF1L3 Derivative works must preserve attribution and must not remove or alter the stated license terms.