Working PaperWorking Paper

TEG-Blue: The Emotional Gradient Blueprint — An Integrative Architecture for Emotional Intelligence

Anna Paretas-Artacho · 2026 · DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.18499576

Presents the complete theoretical architecture of TEG-Blue, synthesizing polyvagal theory, attachment theory, dual-process cognition, trauma research, and systems thinking into a unified framework with four core components.

Key Finding

Emotional regulation follows predictable gradient patterns that can be mapped across individual, relational, and systemic scales using a unified architecture.

Overview

This working paper presents TEG-Blue (The Emotional Gradient Blueprint), an integrative architecture that unifies insights from polyvagal theory, attachment theory, dual-process cognition, trauma neuroscience, and systems thinking into a coherent framework for understanding emotional regulation across scales.

The Four Components

TEG-Blue organizes through four interconnected components: The Inner Compass (Four-Mode Gradient), The Map (12-level mapping system), Emotional Tools (16 practical instruments), and The Circuit Board (pattern origin tracking). Each component addresses a different question about emotional experience.

Theoretical Synthesis

The framework synthesizes 65+ theories across neuroscience, psychology, sociology, and trauma research. Key integrations include Porges' polyvagal hierarchy with Bowlby's attachment patterns, Kahneman's dual-process model with trauma responses, and Gottman's relational dynamics with systemic power analysis.

The 12 Frameworks (F1-F12)

The architecture is organized into 12 interconnected frameworks spanning individual regulation (F1-F3), relational patterns (F4-F7), systemic dynamics (F8-F10), and integration pathways (F11-F12). Each framework maps specific emotional processes across the four regulatory modes.