positive feedback
Chain reaction – Self-amplifying chain of events
Donella Meadows' twelve leverage points to intervene in a system – Systems Dynamics concept
Hyperbolic growth – Growth function exhibiting a singularity at a finite time
Reflexivity (social theory) – Circular relationships between cause and effect
Strategic complements – Game theory concept
System dynamics – Study of non-linear complex systems
Technological singularity – Hypothetical point in time when technological growth becomes uncontrollable and irreversible
Thermal runaway – Situation where an increase in temperature causes a further increase in temperature
negative feedback – Control system used to reduce excursions from the desired value
Vicious/virtuous circle – Self-reinforcing sequence of events: in social and financial systems, a complex of events that reinforces itself through a feedback loop.
Positive reinforcement: a situation in operant conditioning where a consequence increases the frequency of a behaviour.
Praise of performance: a term often applied in the context of performance appraisal, although this usage is disputed
Self-reinforcing feedback: a term used in systems dynamics to avoid confusion with the "praise" usage
Matthew effect – The rich get richer and the poor get poorer
Self-fulfilling prophecy – Prediction that causes itself to become true
Autocatalysis – chemical reaction in which a product (or a reaction intermediate) also functions as a catalyst
Meander – One of a series of curves in a channel of a matured stream