This study proposes the Layered Recursive Structure Model (LRSM), a framework that describes the configuration and interactions of theoretical groups in complex systems by integrating hierarchy and recursive structure. Conventional analyses have relied on either hierarchical structures, causal chains, or single feedback loops in isolation. However, stable states in actual social, cognitive, and institutional systems cannot be explained by these elements treated separately. This study defines conceptual groups as Layers, Nodes, Edges, and Loops, and further introduces a hierarchy of loops (L0–L4) and Layer Recursion (recursion of layers themselves), thereby providing a unified description of multilayered and self-reinforcing structures. Through this model, stable states are understood not as the result of a single cause, but as quasi-stable states formed by the mutual coupling of multiple recursive loops. Furthermore, causal relationships are redefined not as linear chains, but through inter-layer feedback and recursive reinforcement. LRSM extends the object of analysis from individual elements to recursive structures, and functions as a meta-framework that makes the relationships between theories explicit. It thereby provides a unified understanding of structural problems across diverse domains—including social institutions, cognitive structures, organizational behavior, and market structures—and offers a new perspective for designing interventions.
Hiromi Shimamoto (Tue,) studied this question.