Corpus | Home

Ease

Evaluation kills entry, not the state: a threshold model of ease

Author: Florian Morin
Year: 2026
Type: Preprint
Version: v2.0

Canonical version: https://florianmorin.com/papers/ease

Archives versions:
Figshare DOI: https://doi.org/10.6084/m9.figshare.31385281
Zenodo DOI: https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.18224573

Version history

v2.0 – Updated canonical page reference and identifier structure. No changes to scientific content.

v1.0 – Initial release.

Abstract

This paper proposes that a distinct regime of positive affect emerges when continuous evaluation, micro-optimization, and self-monitoring are sufficiently suspended. Rather than being gradually amplified, the state appears through thresholded dynamics consistent with regime-shift behavior in complex systems.

Main Claim

High positive affect is not an intensity increase of ordinary pleasure. It reflects a qualitative regime transition triggered by suspension of optimization loops at entry.

Predictions

• Repeated failed access attempts followed by abrupt discontinuity.
• Qualitative distinctness from ordinary mood states.
• Multi-domain signature extending beyond the initial task context.
• Suppression under evaluative or monitoring load.

Download

Download PDF

How to cite

Morin, F. (2026). Ease: Evaluation kills entry, not the state: a threshold model of ease. Canonical version: https://florianmorin.com/papers/ease.html.

BibTeX

@article{morin2026ease,
  title   = {Ease: Evaluation kills entry, not the state: a threshold model of ease},
  author  = {Morin, Florian},
  year    = {2026},
  url     = {https://florianmorin.com/papers/ease.html}
}

Back to corpus