Feedback Loops

Feedback loops are systems where the output of an action is fed back into the system as input, influencing future actions. They play a crucial role in understanding how systems behave over time, revealing patterns of stability or change. Feedback loops can be categorized into two main types: reinforcing loops and balancing loops, each with distinct characteristics and effects on the system.

Reinforcing loops, also known as positive feedback loops, amplify changes within a system, leading to exponential growth or decline and causing instability if not controlled. This type of loop can result in rapid escalation or runaway behavior. In the image, an increase in the "number of people running" raises the "level of panic," which in turn causes more people to run, creating a cycle that escalates rapidly. Such loops can be beneficial in contexts like economic growth or viral marketing but can be detrimental in situations like the spread of disease or panic.

Balancing loops, or negative feedback loops, counteract changes, promoting stability and equilibrium within a system. They work to bring the system back to a desired state or set point, acting as a self-correcting mechanism. In the image, feeling "hungry" leads to "eating lunch," which reduces hunger and thus decreases the drive to eat more, maintaining balance. These loops are essential for systems to remain stable, such as in homeostasis in biological systems, supply and demand in economics, or thermostat-regulated temperature control.