Universal Principles of Design, Updated and Expanded Third Edition

065 Feedback Loop

A cycle in which output feeds back into a system as input, changing subsequent output.

Every action creates an equal and opposite reaction. When reactions loop back to affect themselves, a feedback loop is created. All dynamic, real-world systems are composed of many interacting feedback loops. Human physiology, traffic patterns, animal populations in the wild, and the spread of contagions are all examples of real-world systems with feedback loops.1

There are two types of feedback loops:

1. Positive feedback loops — Output is amplified, resulting in accelerated growth or decline. Therefore, positive feedback can be useful for creating rapid change but generally results in negative consequences if not moderated by negative feedback ...