In General Systems Theory, which causality pattern describes effects that feed back into causes in a loop?

In General Systems Theory, which causality pattern describes effects that feed back into causes in a loop?

• A. Circular causality
• B. Linear causality
• C. Random causality
• D. Sequential causality

Answer: (A)

Circular causality involves feedback loops where an effect cycles back to influence its own cause. In such a pattern, components in a system affect one another in a way that the outcome becomes part of the ongoing cause, creating a continuous loop. This is why a thermostat example fits: heating changes room temperature, the changed temperature then signals the system to adjust heating, and the loop keeps cycling. In contrast, linear causality is a straight one-way chain (one event causes another without feedback), sequential causality follows a fixed order of steps, and random causality lacks a predictable pattern. Therefore, the causality pattern described by effects feeding back into causes in a loop is circular causality.

Circular causality involves feedback loops where an effect cycles back to influence its own cause. In such a pattern, components in a system affect one another in a way that the outcome becomes part of the ongoing cause, creating a continuous loop. This is why a thermostat example fits: heating changes room temperature, the changed temperature then signals the system to adjust heating, and the loop keeps cycling. In contrast, linear causality is a straight one-way chain (one event causes another without feedback), sequential causality follows a fixed order of steps, and random causality lacks a predictable pattern. Therefore, the causality pattern described by effects feeding back into causes in a loop is circular causality.