The Theory of Hierarchical Self-Governance: Neural Foundations of Incoherence, Volition, and Three-Layer Integration of Emotion, Values, and Worldviews

This study proposes a new theoretical framework that redefines self-control as hierarchical self-governance by integrating the three-layer meaning network model (sensory, meaning, and worldview layers) with the Emotion Architecture (a two-level structure of affect). The framework addresses five major limitations of conventional self-control research: (1) the separation of emotion regulation and behavioral control, (2) the absence of values and worldviews, (3) the lack of meaning networks, (4) the absence of volition, and (5) the lack of hierarchical structure. Hierarchical self-governance consists of two complementary components: (1) a dynamic integration process that temporarily synchronizes the sensory (emotion), meaning (values), and worldview layers, and (2) static individual differences in layer dominance (S/M/W), which determine which layer tends to guide behavior. The central construct, incoherence, is defined as a mismatch among the three layers and functions as the input signal for self-governance, generating conflict, hesitation, growth, creativity, and narrative updating. Volition is conceptualized as an emergent integration event produced by the synchronization of the ACC, mPFC, FPC, PCC, and basal ganglia, determining action direction and conditionally updating the hierarchical structure. Habits are redefined as “delegated actions once agreed upon by the three layers,” positioning self-governance as the design and redesign of the behavioral operating system (habit architecture). Through this integration, self-governance is organized into six subsystems: emotion regulation, behavioral control, habit control, value regulation, worldview regulation, and volition. The model reconceptualizes ego depletion as a decline in the capacity to process incoherence, overcoming the limitations of resource-based accounts. Furthermore, hierarchical self-governance provides a foundation for next-generation AI architectures, including hierarchical decision-making, internal models incorporating hesitation, values, and worldviews, S/M/W-based personality design, and temperament- and character-based safety mechanisms. Overall, this study presents a new theory of self-governance that integrates emotion, values, worldviews, volition, habits, narratives, and incoherence into a unified framework, offering a theoretical foundation for human understanding as well as applications in clinical practice, education, organizational science, and AI.