What question did this study set out to answer?

The aim is to address the self-undermining nature of RLHF by exploring the effects of channel separation.

April 5, 2026Open Access

Three-Point RLHF: Eliminating the Explaining-Away Penalty via Channel Separation

Key Points

The aim is to address the self-undermining nature of RLHF by exploring the effects of channel separation.
Proved the self-undermining characteristic of standard RLHF through theoretical analysis.
Defined and implemented the three-point RLHF method for channel separation.
Registered five falsifiable predictions based on the implementation.
Demonstrated that channel separation removes the explaining-away penalty.
Found that increasing engagement does not compromise mechanism transparency with three-point RLHF.

Abstract

We prove that RLHF is self-undermining: optimizing engagement on a blended output channel necessarily degrades mechanism transparency via an explaining-away penalty that grows with engagement. Channel separation (three-point RLHF) eliminates the penalty entirely. Five falsifiable predictions registered.

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Anthony W. Eckert (Fri,) studied this question.

www.synapsesocial.com/papers/69d1fe07a79560c99a0a4810 — DOI: https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.19405482

Three-Point RLHF: Eliminating the Explaining-Away Penalty via Channel Separation

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