Cognitive Recurring Capture Pattern (C-RCP): An Observation Framework for Recursive Cognitive Convergence

This document is part of the LRSM (Layered Recursive Structure Model) framework. For the foundational structural model, see Shimamoto (2026) https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.20040864 This document defines the Cognitive Recurring Capture Pattern (C-RCP) as an observation framework for identifying and describing recursive cognitive convergence structures in cognitive systems. C-RCP captures situations in which rational cognitive selection, under given cognitive conditions, systematically converges in a direction that diverges from exploratory cognitive behavior, and where such convergence is recursively reinforced through endogenous feedback mechanisms that alter cognitive resource allocation. Rather than providing normative evaluation or prescriptions for cognitive intervention, the framework offers a structured protocol for decomposing cognitive conditions, identifying cognitive convergence, tracing feedback loops, and articulating conflicts between exploratory cognitive behavior and cognitive rationality. The C-RCP framework is positioned as an observational layer within a broader analytical architecture and serves as a reusable unit for analyzing structurally similar phenomena across domains. C-RCP forms a Cross-Loop (L1) relationship of mutual reinforcement with RCP (Recurring Capture Pattern), which functions as the corresponding institutional-side observation framework. By abstracting recurring structural patterns from domain-specific instances, C-RCP enables consistent cross-domain comparison and supports the identification of underlying mechanisms that sustain maladaptive cognitive equilibria.