Principlev1
Distinguish pre-deliberated yielding from post-hoc
Distinguish pre-deliberated yielding from post-hoc rationalization by testing whether you could articulate the strategic reasoning before compliance occurred.
Why This Is a Principle
Grounded in Illusion of Explanatory Depth (gap between felt understanding and ability to explain is diagnostic), Externalization Exposes Hidden Structure (externalizing exposes gaps that remain concealed internally), and Mental Models Are Singular by Default (people construct single mental model without generating alternatives). This principle provides a diagnostic test that derives from understanding how conscious awareness differs from post-hoc narrative construction.