Difference between revisions 20025337 and 32922830 on enwiki

In [[control theory]], '''first-order control''' is when a desired result is attempted by adjusting a scalar (first  -order) control. Such mechanisms, where first order change successfully produces desired results, are called ''first order mechanisms''.  First-order control is contrasted to [[higher-order control]].

While many simple mechanisms are completely first order, most complex mechanisms are only first order within a range of operation.

(contracted; show full)allow the system to "settle".  Examples of difference in distance generally come from [[Static friction]]: a control may be perfectly linear once static friction has been overcome, while being very non-linear from a standing start.  A common example is pushing a heavy crate across a not very slick floor: a great deal of force may be applied without moving the crate at all; a fraction more and it shoots across the floor: after that less force is needed to keep it moving.

==Social implications of 
Ffirst O-order Ccontrol==

Many common beliefs about social organization, such as  "Increasing police decreases crime", or "corruption can be combatted by legislation" imply a first order mechanism. In order to understand various social disasters it is important to recognize the limitations of range, precision, and slack in social controls.

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But in time burglaries begin to rise again to the former levels, as the burglars become more comfortable with the new rules. Addressing this in first order fashion, the curfew is tightened.  Eventually the police will be directed to use deadly force against the adolescents in order to collect those who had been successfully evading their patrols. The continuance of burglaries is used as "proof" that adolescents continue to violate curfew.

==Fallacy of 
Ffirst O-order Ccontrol==

A [[vicious cycle]] where a social mechanism is treated as a first order mechanism, but the way the mechanism is operated causes the opposite of the "desired" effect, sometimes but not always in conjunction with the temporary appearance of success.

:As a specific example: Civil unrest by African Americans in the 1960s led to increased persecution (the control mechanism) of arbitrary African Americans by the Police, FBI, and other formal and informal groups. Increased persecution caused radicalization of previously ambivalent African Americans; some of these radicalized citizens contributed violent crimes and led civil unrest. The increase in violent crimes led to increased persecution; and so on.

On the surface the Fallacy of First Order Control seems undesirable, but it can offer [[Secondary Gain]] to some of the participants, so it is often intentionally provoked. Certain to benefit from fallacious control that involves violence are hawkish and fascist political parties, armament manufacturers, and security forces. Other forms of fallacious control exist and should not be discounted, as when increased taxes inspire increased tax evasion: this can lead to the impoverishment of honest tax-payers and success for the dishonest.

==References==

*<i>Change</i> [[Paul Watzlawick]] [find urls]
[[Category:Control theory]]