Table 1.

Core concepts in cybernetics and dynamics complex systems theory.

Concept	Definition in complex systems	Role of negative feedback	Role of positive feedback	System-level outcome
Homeostasis	The system maintains internal stability despite external perturbations.	Dominant; stabilizes the system by counteracting deviations.	Minimal; tightly regulated to avoid runaway effects.	Stable, regulated equilibrium with low variability.
Homeodynamics	The system sustains functional organization through dynamic adaptation rather than fixed steady states.	Help modulate fluctuations without eliminating them; supports flexible stability.	Supports adaptive change by amplifying signals needed for reorganization.	Dynamic equilibrium with controlled variability and adaptive capacity.
Schismogenesis	Escalating divergence between system components driven by unmoderated feedback interactions, leading to fragmentation.	Insufficient; fails to compensate for overstimulation between subsystems.	Dominant; reciprocal amplification drives escalating separation.	System destabilization, polarization, or fragmentation into competing subsystems.
Isomorphism	Structural or functional correspondence across different system levels (e.g., neural, mental, social).	Ensures parallel stabilizing mechanisms across levels.	Mirrors amplification dynamics across levels (e.g., social → mental → neural).	Cross-level patterning: similar dynamics appear at different scales of the system.
Dissociation	Breakdown of coordination among subsystems due to disrupted feedback loops.	Impaired; fails to maintain integration.	May become chaotic or unregulated, contributing to subsystem isolation.	Loss of coherence; subsystems operate asynchronously or independently.