EFFECTS (MASS)
Charles François (2004). EFFECTS (MASS), International Encyclopedia of Systems and Cybernetics, 2(1): 1031.
| Collection | International Encyclopedia of Systems and Cybernetics |
|---|---|
| Year | 2004 |
| Vol. (num.) | 2(1) |
| ID | ◀ 1031 ▶ |
| Object type | General information, Human sciences, Methodology or model |
The compounded processes or phenomena which appear only by accumulation of numerous individual actions or effects in a limited space or time.
Mass effects are characterized by the growing density of relationships between elements and/or groups of elements. They appear (sometimes quite suddenly) when a upper density threshold is crossed. They are generally unpredicted and even not understood, nor taken into account until they become a considerable source of trouble.
As stated by the French sociologist R. BOUDON, mass effects are generally “perverse” in the sense that the mass process brought about by overcrowding, leads to overburdening or overload and hinders or impedes individual actions. Urban traffic congestion is a good example.