Feedback Reigns

Act on Climate Change

Systems Theory Overview

Introduction to systems theory

Diagram: The feedback cycle amplifying the screech of audio feedback
The feedback cycle amplifying the screech of audio feedback. (ZS05N3S1)

Examine feedback cycles organising:

  • A sound system
  • Physical fitness and decline.
  • Predator and prey populations
  • Control of a sailing boat’s direction.

Features of vicious cycles:

  • Unconstrained vicious cycles cause change and eventually stop themselves by exhausting a necessary resource
  • Physical changes in vicious cycles take time
  • Some cycles can run in reverse

The systems theory introduction page.

Evolution

This feedback cycle amplifies adaptation via natural variation and selection.
This feedback cycle amplifies adaptation via natural variation and selection. (ZS72S2)

Feedback cycles organising the evolution of life on Earth.

A systems theory approach to Counselling

This feedback cycle amplifies (1) a dread, (2) a defence against the dread, & (3) the damage caused by the defence
This feedback cycle amplifies (1) a dread, (2) a defence against the dread, & (3) the damage caused by the defence (ZCM01N3)

A novel and practical approach to counselling based on systems theory.

Vicious cycles driving climate change

Physical cycles driving climate change

This feedback cycle increases global heating, reduces ice cover, and reduces sunlight reflection
This feedback cycle increases global heating, reduces ice cover, and reduces sunlight reflection (ZG92N4S1)

Vicious physical cycles driving climate change

A Political cycle driving change

This feedback cycle amplifies temperatures, migration, and right-wing populism
This feedback cycle amplifies temperatures, migration, and right-wing populism (ZG90N5)

A vicious political cycle driving climate change.

Psychological cycles driving climate change

This vicious cycle amplifies fossil fuel use, climate change, the resulting shocks, and denial of the shocks.
This vicious cycle amplifies fossil fuel use, climate change, the resulting shocks, and denial of the shocks. (ZG01N4S3)
The Fossil fuel cut dread cycle amplifies the dread and climate change
The fossil fuel cut dread cycle ZG02N3S1)

Two vicious cycles driving fossil fuel addiction.

A vicious cycle takes control at a tipping point

The feedback diagram amplifying the tipping of the block.
The feedback diagram amplifying the tipping of the block. (ZS77N4S1)

When a person in a chair tips beyond the tipping point, a vicious cycle drives continued tipping, and reversing the push that created it suddenly has no impact. To avert the fall, another person needs to catch the chair.

The tipping point of a brick

Climate Change Overview

The climate change overview page.

Note: change to   /climate-change-hub/

A feedback cycle supporting change

A well-targeted vision, such as Australia becoming a renewable energy superpower, can form a self-reinforcing virtuous cycle

This feedback cycle amplifies popularity of a well-targeted vision, progress towards the vision and the benefits of the progress.
This feedback cycle amplifies the popularity of a well-targeted vision, progress toward the vision, and the benefits of that progress. (ZG71N3Sa)

The vision-progress-benefits cycle.

Complexity Theory

Chaos Theory: Understanding human behaviour through feedback loops connects psychology to chaos theory and the study of complexity: a realistic lens for human behaviour.

Self-organisation of human behaviour: How feedback cycles can organise (1) thoughts, feelings, ideas, (2) habits, and (3) character.

Loaded 13 Sep 2026

Featured image: ZG71