The Five Mechanisms of Cognitive Capture

Cognitive capture is a structural condition where algorithmic systems systematically displace human analytical functions. Unlike cognitive offloading, which is a temporary behavior, capture represents a state of functional dependency that may be irreversible. I analyze the five interlocking mechanisms of this architecture—Analytic Atrophy, The Inference Gap, Cognitive Prompt Injection, Sycophantic Reinforcement, and Total Capture—and the critical distinction between adult atrophy and childhood developmental foreclosure.