Psychotic Markov Blankets: Striking a Free Energy Balance for Complex Adaptation

Abstract

This paper proposes a framework for optimising the adaptation and attunement of a Complex Adaptive System (CAS) with its environments. The tendency towards stability can be explained by minimising free energy but high variability, noise, and over-specialized rigidity can lead to a "stuck state" in a CAS. Without perturbation (increasing free energy), the system remains stuck and unable to adapt to changing circumstances. The paper introduces the concept of 'psychotic' Markov blankets to understand and specify factors contributing to maladjustment conditions moving away from the minimum stuck state. The paper offers directions for optimising adaptation and attunement to be applied to real-world problems, from cells to behaviour, societies and ecosystems.