SYMPTOM

Charles François (2004). SYMPTOM, International Encyclopedia of Systems and Cybernetics, 2(2): 3297.

Collection	International Encyclopedia of Systems and Cybernetics
Year	2004
Vol. (num.)	2(2)
ID	◀ 3297 ▶
Object type	General information

Any signal or event that indicates some incipient change in a system or a systems process.

Symptoms are mostly systemic phenomena.

Such interpretation is important because symptoms must be perceived and their perception and interpretation depends on the nature and quality of the conceptual frames of reference of the observer. The symptom loses much of its meaning or may even be overlooked if it is seen in an unconnected way, without a good understanding of the inner organization of the affected system and of its relations with its environment.