Affective Socialization Theory (AST): A Unified Model of Behavior from Neural Wiring to Political Economy

Affective Socialization Theory (AST) offers a unified materialist framework connecting political economy directly to neural architecture. While classical Marxism identifies the economic contradictions of capitalism, AST identifies its biological contradiction: the systematic exhaustion of the neurodevelopmental capacity required for human agency. The theory operationalizes this link through a two-tiered model: (1) Core AST maps the biological mechanisms of affective conditioning (utilizing Polyvagal states and 'Mood Grooves'), while (2) Materialist AST defines the structural constraints (Material Strain, Class Character of Context, and Hegemonic Volatility) that dictate neural wiring. By introducing novel metrics like the Revolutionary Pathology Quotient (RPQ) and the Socialization Exposure Dose (SED'), AST offers a falsifiable method to predict both social pathology and revolutionary viability. The theory concludes that the transition to Socialism is a neurodevelopmental imperative, proposing a dialectical synthesis where a "Marxist Shell" (State protection) secures the conditions for an "Anarchist Microclimate" (Agency practice) to rewire the population. This paper presents the theoretical framework, the mathematical models, and the AST Self-Tracker instrument designed to test these hypotheses empirically.