Expectation-Driven Mechanisms in Mammalian Behavior: Cross-Species Validation of the MFY Three-Variable Model

Preprint Version 1.0 【Preprint Statement】This paper is an original theoretical research preprint that has not undergone peer review. It is the second paper in the MFY Three-Variable Steady-State Meta-Model series, focusing on the cross-species applicability validation of the model. The core framework of this paper is fully based on the original MFY Three-Variable Steady-State Meta-Model created by Baichen Yi. It only represents the author’s exploratory academic views, and academic exchanges and critical feedback are welcome. For formal citations, please include the author, source, and preprint version information in a standardized manner. Author Information • Author: Baichen Yi • Affiliation: Independent Researcher, Xi'an, Shaanxi 710000, China • ORCID: 0009-0008-6242-7743 • Corresponding Author: Baichen Yi • Email: ybcbenxin@163.com • Conflict of Interest Statement: All authors declare no conflicts of interest related to this work. Copyright License This preprint is licensed under the CC BY-NC-ND 4.0 International License. Global sharing and reproduction are permitted under the conditions of proper attribution, non-commercial use, and no modification or adaptation of the original text. Special Authorization Statement: The author specially authorizes any individual or institution to translate the full text or parts of this paper into other languages. Translated versions must maintain the core logic of the original text unchanged and clearly indicate the original source and author information. The full license text is available at: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/ Abstract The MFY Three-Variable Steady-State Meta-Model has been originally constructed and empirically validated in human individual psychological systems, proposing the core axioms: "Anchor M is the ontological first-principle source, and Expectation Y is the operational first-principle driving variable." The core objective of this paper is to test the applicability of this model in the behavioral systems of non-human mammals, completing cross-species validation of the theory. Strictly following the core variable definitions and closed-loop logic of the original MFY framework, this paper fully adheres to the M→F→Y→F→M core closed-loop system. It conducts systematic validation of the model based on 10 sets of empirical cases across three scenarios: repeatable natural experiments with companion animals, classic laboratory behavioral experiments, and field behavioral observations of wild mammals. The results show that the MFY three-variable model can provide a unified and self-consistent explanation for a wide range of mammalian behavioral decisions, from basic survival behaviors to advanced social behaviors, while confirming the universality of the optimal Y→F→M intervention path in mammalian systems. The core contribution of this paper is to confirm, through cross-species validation, that the MFY model describes not only human-specific psychological phenomena but also fundamental operating laws common to mammalian systems. It extends the applicable boundary of the model from human psychological systems to mammalian behavioral systems, providing a unified dialogue framework for scattered research in comparative psychology, animal behavior, and cognitive neuroscience, as well as standardized theoretical guidance for practical scenarios such as companion animal behavior modification.