Structural Degradation Model of Implicit-Norm-Dominant Groups: The Implicit-Norm Degradation Model (NID Model)

This is a conceptual model addressing the decision-making modality of non-institutionally constituted collectives, not a critique of any specific industry. This working paper presents the Implicit-Norm Degradation Model (NID Model), a stage-based theoretical framework describing how groups lacking explicit, codified norms — governed instead by "atmosphere," "common sense," and emotional appeals — form, standardize implicit conventions, transition into affective governance, and ultimately lose self-corrective capacity. The model integrates existing accounts from normative theory (Durkheim), practice theory (Bourdieu), and developmental psychology (Kegan), and applies them to emerging digital industries. Four degradation stages are proposed: Normative Void Formation, Implicit Norm Standardization, Affective Governance, and Self-Correction Failure. The VTuber industry serves as a primary illustrative case; the model is applicable to other non-institutionally constituted collectives. The development of this paper involved dialogue with Claude (Anthropic) and ChatGPT (OpenAI) as tools for externalizing reasoning and verifying structural coherence. Theoretical conception and conclusions are the author's own.