The Long Dissolve
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twofacedweirdoThe Long Dissolve
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twofacedweirdoThe following work is intended as an act of simulation.
Play responsibly; play with care; play only with consent freely given.
Abstract
Experts in the field of Exogenous Transitions have long adhered to well-established modes of
material change. While methods standardized in the 1950s remained commonplace through the
back half of the 20th century, the early 2010s opened up exciting new developments when Dr.
Alexandra Grace published her seminal findings on Habituative Reinforcement.
Dr. Grace’s early research pulled significantly from her background in social performance studies,
centering on the idea of ritual simulation as ‘rehearsal’ for more deep-rooted adjustments. For a
field steeped in matters of practical physiology, the theory of Habituative Reinforcement was
nothing short of groundbreaking; indeed, Dr. Grace’s findings have led to an explosion of
experimental methodologies in recent years.
This report serves as a preliminary overview of the Habituative Reinforcement Technique, a
psychological and somatic exercise that seeks to expand upon Dr. Grace’s rich body of work.
How flattering.
The Long Dissolve
by Anise Catch
for the Forced Feminization Game Jam
Materials
Instances of the Habituative Reinforcement Technique conducted as a part of this study utilized
the following materials and structure:
● Administrator: The researcher tasked with overseeing proper protocol during the
exercise.
● Tablet: A small hard candy, or breath mint, to be administered orally over the couse of the
exercise.
● Subject: The focus of the experiment.
The duration of the Habituative Reinforcement Technique may vary, depending on the salivary
output of the subject and the rate of dissolution in the chosen tablet. However, administrators may
expect a single HRT cycle to last anywhere between two and twenty minutes.
Risks
Most methods of exogenous transition require a delicate but firm level of control over the subject.
The Habituative Reinforcement Technique is no exception. The following behaviors may
jeopardize the procedure, and are to be avoided at all costs:
● Any attempt to prolong or to hasten the dissolution of the tablet;
● Any attempt to reposition the tablet within the subject’s mouth;
● Any attempted speech or communication with outside parties, including the administrator;
● Any fidgeting, jostling, or shifting in place. Good girls don’t slouch.
Subjects judged to be taking such actions deliberately will be seen as tampering with the
experiment and may be chastened accordingly.
Methodology
The following procedure constitutes a single HRT cycle:
1. Deliver the tablet via sublingual administration.
2. Monitor the subject for changes in any of the following:
● Body temperature ● Flushed skin
● Heart rate ● Fluctuations in endorphin levels
● Breathing rate ● Sensitivity of erogenous zones
● Tension in jaw ● Sexual arousal
● Tension in neck or shoulders Doing away with subtlety, are we?
● Constriction or dilation of pupils
Physiological responses in these areas are commonplace, but must be registered for the
sake of thorough investigation.
a. Note: During this process, the administrator’s examination should be exacting and
comprehensive. Let no aspect of the subject’s reactions escape your scrutiny.
3. Once the tablet has been dissolved and consumed, conduct a full inspection of the subject’s
oral vestibule and buccal cavities to confirm that no particles have been withheld.
At the administrator’s discretion, subject may be directed to complete subsequent HRT cycles to
meet expected standards of satisfaction.
Further clarity on the HRT cycle is outlined in Appendix A.
End notes
Scholars well-versed in Dr. Grace’s more recent publications will be familiar with her theory of
administrator as active catalyst during an exogenous transition process. As outlined in Attendant
Structures in Habituative Reinforcement, the administrator has the potential to act not only as
monitor, but as usher and confidante: a “physiological psychopomp” guiding the subject through
ongoing transition with a degree of attention and care.
The procedures outlined in the preceding report maintain a degree of distance, instructing
administrators to assist only in sublingual delivery of the tablet and monitoring of the subject’s
resultant physiology. However, this researcher posits that an HRT cycle with a more hands-on
process might yield fruitful results: an attentive administrator may be able to encourage the
subject with positive reinforcement of desired behaviors during sublingual administration.
The Habituative Reinforcement Technique is still an early area of study, rife with opportunities for
future investigation. This researcher is intrigued by the possibility of self-regulated tests, with
subjects administering their own HRT cycles and monitoring the resultant responses through
self-documentation. Such experiments may be limited in their objective accuracy, but would
provide valuable qualitative insights into the psychological and physiological phenomenology of
the HRT experience. (It goes without saying that such procedures would be most practically
conducted with subjects deemed appropriately receptive.)
Conversely, pushing Dr. Grace’s theories to their logical conclusion, one might also envision a
procedure structured around multiple administrators, tasked with delivering to a subject a
combination of both positive and negative reinforcement.
The efficacy of these proposals has yet to be fully investigated at this time. Further research is
advised.
An intriguing proposition. We should discuss these possibilities in further detail. Preferably over dinner.
