System Theory Definition

System theory is the interdisciplinary study of systems in general, with a focus on scientific modeling and analysis. It is frequently used in the social sciences, but has applications in many other fields, including engineering, biology, and physics.

In system theory, a system is defined as a set of elements that interact with each other to produce some desired output. The elements can be physical or abstract, and the interactions between them can be either direct or indirect. The output of a system can be anything from a simple action to a complex behavior.

Systems are often studied using feedback loops, which are sets of cause-and-effect relationships that influence the behavior of a system. Feedback loops can be either positive or negative, depending on whether they reinforce or counteract the effects of the inputs on the system.

System theory has its roots in cybernetics, which was developed by Norbert Wiener in the 1940s. Cybernetics studies how humans and animals control their own behavior through feedback mechanisms. System theory builds on this foundation by studying how all types of systems function.