Balancing feedback loops maintain order while reinforcing feedback loops create chaos

A balancing feedback loop has a goal and it tries to move the current state closer to it. Order comes from the constant reversion to the mean.

A reinforcing feedback loop generates more stock the more stock there is and it creates exponential growth. It has no bound. It goes faster and faster.

Example

As the fish get more scarce and hence more expensive, it becomes all the more profitable to go out and catch them, accelerating their depletion.