Economics
Panic selling on a market causes prices to drop quickly causing more panic selling.Human Behavior
Praise for an achievement causes more interest in learning which causes more praise for achievement.Network Effect
The network effect is when a service become more valuable as more people use it. For example, a night club where customers cause the night club to feel more social that leads more customers.Thermal Runaway
Thermal runaway is when an electrical circuit overheats causing it to use more power, causing it to overheat further. This can quickly damage the circuit. Thermal runaway has also been used to model environmental problems. For example, urban heat islands cause more use of air conditioning that leads to worse urban heat islands.Audio Feedback
A microphone that sends random noise to a speaker that picks up the same noise amplified through the speaker thus sending greater random noise to the speaker. This generally occurs when a microphone is near a speaker and quickly escalates to create a high pitched sound at the maximum volume of the amplifier powering the speakers.Biology
Biological systems are often based on positive feedback loops. For example, contractions in childbirth release a hormone called oxytocin that causes stronger contractions.Technology
An advancement in technology creates more powerful tools that lead to greater advancements in technology. For example, more powerful computers enable the design and manufacturing of more powerful computers.Jevons Paradox
Jevons paradox is a theory that states that energy efficiency makes things cheaper leading to greater overall energy consumption. For example, cheaper rockets that lead to more space travel that leads to innovation that produces cheaper rockets.Self-Fulfilling Prophecy
A self-fulfilling prophecy is a prediction that makes itself more likely. This is based on the observation that fiction can become reality as it impacts people's expectations for the future. For example, bleak science fiction that leads to bleak systems that leads to ever bleaker science fiction.Matthew Effect
The Matthew effect is the theory that the adage "the rich get richer and the poor get poorer" is largely true. This is typically based on positive feedback loops. For example, poverty causes problems of education, health and social stability that cause more poverty.Vicious Cycle
A vicious cycle is any positive feedback loop that creates negatives. For example, weight gain that causes negative emotions that causes excessive eating that causes more weight gain.Virtuous Cycle
A virtuous cycle is any positive feedback loop that creates positives. For example, business growth that leads to more brand awareness that leads to more business growth.| Overview: Positive Feedback Loop | ||
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Definition | A situation where A causes B that causes even more of A. | |
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