From Scarcity to Sovereignty: A Neurophenomenological Framework for Disrupting Cycles of Extraction

This paper proposes a neurophenomenological framework linking exploitative behavior (“extraction”) to perceived internal scarcity and dysregulation of self-referential and interoceptive neural systems.

It integrates research on narcissism, empathy deficits, default mode network activity, and autonomic regulation to explain how reliance on external validation and resource acquisition emerges from impaired internal regulation.

The framework introduces a three-stage intervention model—thermal exposure, sensory reduction, and somatosensory integration—designed to modulate neural networks, reduce rumination, and enhance interoceptive awareness.

It distinguishes between transient state-level stabilization (“soft peace”) and durable trait-level regulation (“hard peace”), emphasizing the role of repeated and sequenced interventions in achieving long-term integration.

Positioned as a testable and interdisciplinary model, the work contributes to understanding how shifts in physiology and cognition can transition behavior from extraction-based strategies toward internally regulated, generative, and cooperative modes.