1. Definition

Constraint-as-guidance occurs when suppressive or restrictive signals are misread as meaningful direction.

This definition describes the structural pattern, not the moral quality of the actors involved.

2. Core Pattern

TBD. Expand the initiating pressure, misclassification or bypass, variable degradation, debt accumulation, and stabilization pattern during editorial review.

3. Failure Signature

Typical signature:

Π masquerades as Τ
trajectory narrows
agency↓
meaning confusion↑

4. Primary U-Layer Origin

• U4, U5: Source registry origin layer.

5. Typical Development Sequence

TBD. Add the development sequence during editorial review.

6. Diagnostic Markers

TBD. Add diagnostic markers only when supported by source material or later canon updates.

7. Related Gates

TBD. Add gate links during editorial review.

8. Related Operators

TBD. Add operator links during editorial review.

9. Related Laws and Invariants

TBD. Add law and invariant links during editorial review.

10. Common False Positives

TBD. Add false positives during editorial review.

11. Common False Repairs

TBD. Add false repairs during editorial review.

12. Restoration Direction

• distinguish constraint from guidance
• restore trajectory selection
• loosen invalid constraints
• time-validate actual guidance

13. Cross-Module Links

• ISC: Source registry related module.
• CMS: Source registry related module.
• Security: Source registry related module.
• Scaling: Source registry related module.
• Principles: Source registry related module.

14. Relationship to Parent / Child Modes

Production treatment: Standalone Entry / Canon-aligned

Aliases, parent modes, and child modes should be finalized during editorial review.

15. Minimal Entry Version

Definition: Constraint-as-guidance occurs when suppressive or restrictive signals are misread as meaningful direction.

Signature:

Π masquerades as Τ
trajectory narrows
agency↓
meaning confusion↑

Restoration direction: - distinguish constraint from guidance

• restore trajectory selection
• loosen invalid constraints
• time-validate actual guidance

16. Machine-Readable Summary

failure_mode:
  id: "FM-ISC-003"
  name: "Constraint-as-Guidance"
  family: "Interactions Signals Couplings"
  production_treatment: "Standalone Entry / Canon-aligned"
  primary_failure: "Constraint-as-guidance occurs when suppressive or restrictive signals are misread as meaningful direction."
  source: "FM-REGISTRY-PLAN.md"

17. Quality Control Checklist

TBD. Complete the template quality-control checklist before marking this entry ready.

18. Source Status

This scaffold was generated from FM-REGISTRY-PLAN.md. Matching excerpts from content/archive/failure-modes/registry/index.md were included when available. Sections marked TBD should be expanded only from source material, related canon pages, or later editorial review.

19. Source Excerpt

FM-ISC-003 — Constraint-as-Guidance

Definition:

Constraint-as-guidance occurs when suppressive or restrictive signals are misread as meaningful direction.

Typical signature:

Π masquerades as Τ
trajectory narrows
agency↓
meaning confusion↑

Primary variables:

Π, Τ, µᵢ, K, H

Common origin layers:

U4, U5

Related modules:

ISC · CMS · Security · Scaling · Principles

Restoration direction:

• distinguish constraint from guidance
• restore trajectory selection
• loosen invalid constraints
• time-validate actual guidance