Difference between revisions 2407573 and 2407582 on enwiki

'''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)adolescents to their family homes after dark. The police are directed to enforce this curfew, but forbidden to use deadly force. Many adolescents are arrested by the police; many adolescents are seen by the police but fail to be apprehended. The newness of the situation and the increase in police patrols causes a temporary decline in burglaries. This is heralded as "proof" that the curfews are working to decrease crime, and "proof" that adolescents were responsible for the burglaries.


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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.
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==Fallacy of First Order Control==

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]