Cognitive Drift

Cognitive Drift describes how human cognition continues to function, interpret, and respond while gradually losing alignment with reality. It emerges when thought becomes increasingly shaped by compressed representations, mediated inputs, and recursive internal models rather than direct contact with the world.

Cognition does not fail in the obvious sense. It remains active, coherent, and adaptive, but begins drifting from what it is meant to track.

Download PDF: Cognitive Drift [IA]

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Part of the Reality Drift Framework

Related Concepts:

• Reality Drift
• Optimization Trap
• Synthetic Realness
• Filter Fatigue
• The Age of Drift
• Recursive Compression
• Constraint Collapse
• The Drifted Self

Explore:

• What Is Reality Drift
• Canonical Overview

Note: This site functions as a lightweight archive and reference layer for the Reality Drift framework. Primary essays and long-form writing are distributed across external platforms.

Substack • GitHub • DOI

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Part of Reality Drift Framework by A. Jacobs (2023-2026)