The Petra Principle proposes a cognitive model describing how experts reach a saturation threshold in knowledge-intensive work. At this point, traditional linear learning pathways diminish in effectiveness, and self-directed, AI-augmented meta-learning becomes dominant. The model explains cognitive overload, diminishing returns in mentoring structures, and the emergence of second-order knowledge strategies in high-complexity environments. It offers a conceptual foundation for understanding how expert cognition transitions from accumulation to abstraction under conditions of informational saturation.
Use the following citation in academic work:
Stepan, R. (2025). The Petra Principle: A Cognitive Model of Saturation in Expert Knowledge Work. Zenodo. https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.17611784
© 2025 Rudolf Stepan — Independent Researcher