Dysfunctional Cycles and Spirals

Web resources on "breaking the cycle"

Dysfunctional Cycles and Spirals

Dysfunctional Cycles and Spirals
B. Spirals

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Anthony Judge

This paper is a contribution to reflection on viable strategies for sustainable development on the occasion of the
UN World Summit on Sustainable Development (Johannesburg, 2002)

The following cycles and spirals were identitifed from the web as part of work on a separate paper on Psychology of Sustainability: embodying cyclic environmental processes (/psychsus_x_h_1) where their significance is discussed.

For a meeting on inter-sectoral dialogue on the occasion of the Earth Summit (Rio de Janeiro, 1992) a somewhat related study was undertaken on the many sets of issues identified in declarations prepared for the gathering. This explored possibilities of structuring such issues by Configuring strategic dilemmas in intersectoral dialogue cyclically on the surface of a sphere [more].

There is now a very extensive focus on "breaking" dysfunctional cycles [use web search "breaking the cycle of" (or "breaking the cycles of")] that might be understood as undermining healthy sustainability.

Once completed, the search was extended to include "breaking the chain of" and "breaking the chains of" on the assumption that "chain" was here understood as a synonym for "cycle". The links found were added to those for any equivalent cycle already in the list -- unless no such cycle was found (in which case the term "chain" was used in the list). In the latter case there is a question of whether "chain" is understood merely as a binding or burden without any sense of the circular dynamic associated with "cycle" -- as in the cases of the chains of: legacy [more], behaviorism [more], chastity [more], loneliness [more], man-made religion [more], or the past [more]. The search was further extended to "breaking the circle of".

The following loosely clustered list covers over 100 such cycles -- possibly with some overlaps or duplicates in practice. Those identified from the web searches may derive either from studies of such a cycle or mention of such cycles in the body of a text with some other preoccupation. It is intended to be illustrative of usage rather than concerned with identifying the best source on a particular cycle.

Abuse and violence

  • the "cycle of domestic violence", physical and emotional abuse" [more; more; family violence [more],
  • the "cycle of male violence"
  • the "cycle of marital strife" [more]
  • the "cycle of abuse" against pregnant women [more],
  • the "cycle of emotional blackmail" [more]
  • the "cycle of child abuse" [more;
  • the "cycle of animal abuse" [more], pet abuse and cruelty to animals [more],
  • the "cycle of insecurity" [more; social violence [more], and gang violence [more],
  • the "cycle of destructive behaviour" [more],
  • the "cycle of fear" [more; and anxiety [more],
  • the "cycle of institutional abuse" [more],
  • the " circle of violence in schools" [more],
  • the "circle of ritual abuse" [more],
  • the "chain of aggression" [more],
  • the "cycle of violence" relating to terrorism [more;

Self-abuse, defeatism and sin

  • the "cycle of destructive expression" [more],
  • the "cycle of depression" [more],
  • the "cycle of failure" [more],
  • the "cycle of maladaptation" [more],
  • the "cycle of addiction" [more; compulsive relapse [more] and associations [more],
  • the "cycle of substance abuse" [more; chemical dependency, nicotine dependence [more],
  • the "cycle of self-medicating emotional and psychological pain"
  • thje "cycle of emotional dishonesty" [more],
  • the "cycle of self-defeating behaviours" [more], or self-destructive behaviours [more], and destructive habits [more],
  • the "cycle of self-mutilation" [more],
  • the "cycle of anger" [more;
  • the "cycle of despair" [more;
  • the "chain of low self-esteem" [more],
  • the "chain of psychological slavery" [more],
  • the "chain of depression" [more],
  • the "chain of denial" [more],
  • the "cycle of apathy" [more;
  • the "cycle of negativity" [more],
  • the "cycle of self-indulgence" [more],
  • the "cycle of sin" [more; generational sin [more], and wrong-doing [more],
  • the "chain of mysicism" [more],
  • the "cycle of spiritual poverty" [more],
  • the cycle of reincarnations" [more;
Crime and irresponsibility
  • the "cycle of corruption" and bribery [more],
  • the "chain of lies" [more],
  • the "cycle of sexual addiction" [more;
  • the "cycle of teen pregnancy" [more],
  • the "cycle of offending" [more],

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