A General Theory of Regulatory Instability: Threshold Dynamics, Load Distribution, and Nonlinear Release

Psychological systems regulate internal activation under persistent demands, yet existing theories inadequately explain abrupt nonlinear breakdowns like aggression and self-regulatory collapse. This paper presents a general theory of regulatory instability where failure emerges from dynamic threshold degradation, load distribution variance, and delayed release amplification. Instability occurs when localized activation breaches plastic thresholds following sustained regulatory strain, not merely from total load. The model integrates drive theory, frustration-aggression, allostasis, and self-regulation into a unified formal framework with precise, falsifiable predictions across behavioral, physiological, and neural levels.