A Vectorial Theory of the Appetition–Aversion Principle

This article introduces a formal vectorial model of motivated behavior based on the dynamic interplay between appetition and aversion. Drawing on neuroethology, affective neuroscience, and dynamical systems theory, the model conceptualizes conative (Fc) and inhibitory (Fi) forces as directional vectors projected within a telotopic space—a structured field of context-dependent attractors (teloi). Each affective force is defined by its intensity and orientation, and contributes to a resultant vector whose alignment with a perceived telos governs the likelihood, direction, and coherence of behavioral activation.To capture the fluidity of decision-making and emotional conflict, the model incorporates the concept of micro-teloi: transient sub-attractors whose salience modulates affective trajectories and induces motivational switching. The framework also theorizes group-level dynamics, modeling endofavoritism and exodefavoritism as emergent expressions of collective Fc/Fi alignment within symbolic fields.Mathematically, the system is formalized through differential equations, angular interpolation, and threshold functions. Empirical validation pathways are proposed, including hormonal profiling, EEG/fMRI mapping, and vector reconstruction in virtual environments. Applications include the modeling of moral ambivalence, political polarization, and affective architecture in artificial agents. By treating affect as a directional and regulative force, this model redefines emotion as a structural driver of both individual behavior and social organization.