Feedback Loops
📋 What it is
Feedback loops make a system respond to itself — either amplifying a change or steadying it.
🗣️ Coach says
A feedback loop is when a system’s output loops back to affect itself. REINFORCING loops amplify (more cheering → even more cheering); BALANCING loops steady things (a thermostat turns heat off when warm enough). Feedback is why systems can suddenly snowball — or hold remarkably steady.
🧠 Memory hook
Feedback = output loops back. Reinforcing = amplifies (snowball) · balancing = steadies (thermostat).
😂 Giggle
What did the predator say to the prey population?
"Our relationship is really complex — it goes in cycles!"
😲 Whoa!
A microphone screeching near its speaker is a runaway reinforcing loop — the speaker’s sound re-enters the mic, gets amplified, re-enters again, louder and louder in a fraction of a second.
✅ Quick check: What’s the difference between a reinforcing and a balancing feedback loop?
Say your answer out loud first — then reveal.
Reinforcing loops amplify a change (snowball); balancing loops counteract it to keep things steady.
Reinforcing amplifies; balancing stabilises.
🧪 Try it! (2 minutes)
Think of a thermostat (balancing) vs a rumour spreading (reinforcing) — two kinds of feedback.