Self-Context Dynamical Model: A New Framework for Understanding Self-Change
Year: 2025
Type: article
Abstract: The nature of the self and its transformation over time has long been a central question in philosophy, psychology, and cognitive science. While existing theories—such as Parfit's psychological continuity theory, process philosophy, Buddhist traditions, and contemporary cognitive science—have contributed valuable insights, they do not provide a unified mechanism for explaining how self-change occurs. This paper introduces the Self-Context Dynamical Model (SCDM), a new theoretical framework that conceptualizes the self as a dynamic structure formed through the continuous interaction between seed (innate tendencies) and context (situational input). SCDM proposes that self-change is triggered when new contextual inputs come into conflict with the existing value structure, generating a reflective state in which individuals reassess their goals, values, and interpretive rules. The model integrates elements of psychological continuity, process philosophy, and motivation theory, offering a structural-dynamical account of self-change, stagnation, and deviation. Additionally, SCDM introduces the concept of a bypass mechanism, which explains how individuals pursue functionally equivalent outcomes when direct transformation is blocked. This is a work in progress, and the model presented here is still under development. Minor language edits were made using AI-based proofreading tools to improve clarity.
Author: Wang, Yaohui
Language: English
Subfield: Experimental and Cognitive Psychology
Field: Psychology
Domain: Social Sciences
Open Access status: green
OpenAlex ID: W7112517021
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