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>> [Defensive escalation] is common in nations where people are not taught the art of systems thinking. I see that as the moral of the article. Sometimes feedb
by mrtnmcc 5y ago
>> [Defensive escalation] is common in nations where people are not taught the art of systems thinking.
I see that as the moral of the article. Sometimes feedback loops can make a joint system unstable even though they appear to ostensibly be stabilizing locally. When observed over longer time periods, negative feedback drives the system off the rails.
Perhaps resisting the impulse to react, or reacting minimally would seem like a general policy to consider (damping).
- DoreenMichele 5y agoYour comment prompted me to read the piece. Let me just quote this bit as well: According to Senge, individuals who fail to recognize or acknowledge systems like this one are “bound by invisible fabrics of interrelated actions, which often take years to fully play out their effects on each other.” He says this is common in nations where people are not taught the art of systems thinking. In fact, Senge argues that most children are taught just the opposite — how to break apart problems, instead of how to connect the dots and see related issues as part of a bigger picture. There's more of value in that section. I'm just reluctant to quote at excessive length.