Recurring Capture Pattern (RCP): An Observation Framework for Recursive Behavioral 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 Recurring Capture Pattern (RCP) as an observation framework for identifying and describing recursive behavioral convergence structures in institutional systems. RCP captures situations in which rational behavioral selection, under given institutional conditions, systematically converges in a direction opposite to stated institutional objectives, and where such convergence is recursively reinforced through endogenous feedback mechanisms that alter institutional parameters. Rather than providing normative evaluation or policy prescriptions, the framework offers a structured protocol for decomposing institutional conditions, identifying behavioral convergence, tracing feedback loops, and articulating conflicts between institutional objectives and institutional rationality. The 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, including governance, welfare systems, education, housing, and regional policy. By abstracting recurring structural patterns from domain-specific instances, RCP enables consistent cross-domain comparison and supports the identification of underlying mechanisms that sustain maladaptive institutional equilibria.