Cycle 2 Pattern Category,Cycle 1 Codes included,Rationale for clustering,Boundary notes
1. Routine micro-checks & time-filling,"Habitual check (autopilot); Wake-up scroll; Kill time / waiting filler; Entertainment/distraction; Bored/restless; Neutral/flat; Groggy/half-asleep; contexts: Commute/transit, Queue/waiting, In-between class break, Lecture setting, Morning routine, Personal care routine, Workplace",Captures “default opening” + time-passing in liminal moments with low emotional intensity.,If the row explicitly avoids duties/causes guilt → Category 3. If calming/soothing is explicit → Category 2. Money checks → 7/8.
"2. Soothing, decompression & affect regulation","Mood regulation / comfort-scroll; Calm/steady; Tired/exhausted; Reward after effort; contexts: Home downtime, Night-time bed scroll, Outdoor public space","Represents self-soothing and recovery use (wind-down, calming down, post-effort treat).",If time-loss/guilt/spiral is central → Category 3. If validation/metrics is central → Category 5.
"3. Avoidance, time-loss & negative self-evaluation spirals",Procrastination/avoidance; Doomscrolling spiral; Compulsive pull; Guilty (time/procrastination); Ambivalent (mixed); Self-critical/annoyed at self; Depressed/low mood; Social comparison distress; context: Study space (when avoidance-framed),Consolidates tension trajectories (comfort → guilt; stress → avoidance; spiral worsening) and negative self-appraisal.,If use is short and neutral (no avoidance) → Category 1. If calm wind-down without self-judgement → Category 2.
4. Social connection & shared media,"Social connection / sharing; Socially uplifted; Social co-present; contexts: Café/third space, Friend’s place hangout, Home downtime (co-watching), Workplace (co-present)","Groups bonding uses where social warmth is primary (DMs, shared Reels, co-browsing).",If posting/metrics/validation is primary → Category 5. If the action is mainly payment logistics → Category 7/8.
"5. Performance, validation & attention cues",Triggered by notification/tag (when attention/feedback loop is central); Post/participate; Check reactions/validation; Wired/overstimulated; context: After going out,"Captures “social buzz mechanics”: prompts, posting, reaction-checking, and overstimulation.",If it’s simply DM chat/sharing without metrics → Category 4. If it’s banking notification verification → Category 7.
"6. Goal priming, learning & activation",Inspiration/goal priming; Stimulation/energy boost; Information seeking/learning; Motivated/energised; Hopeful (motivated); Ad-triggered interest/action (goal follow-up); contexts: Gym workout,"Captures content that builds momentum (energising, aspirational, learning) and future orientation.",If the outcome is purchase intent driven by influencer shopping → Category 8. If it’s just entertainment → Category 1/2.
7. Financial reassurance & verification,Money anxiety; Verify payment/transaction; Reassurance check (finance); Reassured/relieved; (sometimes) Curious/cautious when uncertainty-reduction dominates,Captures the banking “uncertainty → confirmation → relief” loop.,If planning/caps/tracking dominates → Category 8. If decline/error troubleshooting dominates → Category 9.
"8. Financial control, planning & disciplined decision-making",Budget planning/tracking; Track/organise finances; Decision support (purchase/plan); Self-control / limit-setting; Investment monitoring/management; Proud/sensible; Curious/cautious (when deciding/restraint dominates),"Captures banking as self-management and constrained choice-making (control, competence, discipline).",If it’s a quick reassurance check (no planning) → Category 7. If it’s a closure/reset ritual → Category 10.
"9. Acute disruption, risk & repair episodes",Problem-solving/payment issue; Shame/embarrassment; Fear/safety anxiety; Angry/irate; Impatient/irritated; Disappointed/let down; Public disruption/constraint,Consolidates high-friction moments requiring repair or managing acute negative affect.,If it’s routine money checking without an acute trigger → Category 7/8.
"10. Closure rituals, grounding resets & admin completion",End-of-day reset/check; Reset/grounding; App-switch sequence; Savings action; Deferred admin task completion,Captures “closing the day / back to reality” patterns and administrative completion.,If the behaviour is budgeting/planning without reset framing → Category 8. If it’s just verification → Category 7.