The Confectionery Model: How Embodied Cognition and LMT Shape Independent Research

This paper proposes The Confectionery Model of Theory Construction, a personal research methodology developed by the author, an independent researcher with ASD. Drawing from long-term self-observation, professional experience as a licensed chef and pâtissière, and the Load Minimization Theory (LMT), the author demonstrates that their cognitive process in theory building is structurally identical to the embodied practice of making pastries. The model consists of seven iterative steps — Ingredient Recognition, Structural Weighing, Process Sequencing, Thermal Contexting, Iterative Baking, Failure Conditions, and Recipe Publication — grounded in embodied pattern recognition. The author illustrates how the same sensory algorithm used to instantly assess the internal structure of fruits, adjust pastry recipes, and sense the characteristics of AI models is applied to philosophical and theoretical construction. By openly sharing this process, the paper argues that diverse research styles, including those rooted in neurodivergent cognition and embodied knowledge, can coexist peacefully and enrich the academic world. Rather than competing, researchers can “bake together,” minimizing unnecessary load while maximizing flow and collective understanding. The ultimate aim is to contribute to a gentler, more collaborative future of An-soku (peaceful rest) in research.