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Amplifies a change in the same direction e.g., toward more growth or
toward a decline in say a market. The word positive refers only to the
idea of amplification, not to the (say) nature of the opinion being
communicated. So, to risk confusion, a positive opinion can be a
positive feedback loop that amplifies growth. A negative opinion can
also be a positive feedback loop but, in this case, may amplify decline.

Negative Feedback

Negative feedback stabilizes a phenomenon around an equilibrium
point or path by reversing the current direction of change. E.g., if a
thermostat senses that a house is too warm it shuts off the heating so
induces a cooling. No amplification is involved, simply reversal. This
form of feedback is known technically as homeostasis. and it leads to
fluctuations around an equilibrium (say the desired house
temperature).

Far-from-Equilibrium

Negative feedback loops have counteracting effects so that the system
oscillates around an equilibrium point e.g., the temperature in a
thermostat, or over time an equilibrium path.

Positive feedback loops amplify movement in whatever direction it
was moving. This process of amplification in a given direction is called
being 'far-from-equilibrium'.

Limits to Growth

A positive feedback process cannot go on forever. This is the basis of
the limits to growth hypothesis in ecological thinking; a positive
feedback runs into resource limitations and ceases. In business, such
limits to growth are set by, for example, the population of possible
buyers.

Sensitivity to Initial Conditions: The Butterfly

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