Activity: The vicious cycle of discriminationThis is a featured page


Purpose: To introduce the systems thinking tool of causal loops to participants
Participants:4 to many

Time: 60 min.

Materials:Flip charts
Marker pens
Process: 1. Ask participants to think about an example of discrimination against a minority for instance in their home country/community.

2. Write on the flip chart the following variables:
  • Prejudice in the majority
  • Discrimination against minority
  • Standard of living of the minority
  • Standard of living of the majority
  • Majority’s perception of minority as inferior

3. Participants should now in pairs explore how these factors interrelate. They can try to bring them in a logical sequence. These questions can be helpful:
  • Which factors adds (leads to an increase) of other factor(s)?
  • Which factor subtracts (leads to a decrease) of other factor(s)?
Participants should develop a draft vicious cycle on a flip chart that is displayed on the wall in front of the room. After the group work, participants study the cycles of other groups.

4. Discuss differences between the cycles in plenary.

5. Now introduce the causal loop diagram as a tool in systems thinking and use the example of discrimination in order to show how a causal loop functions.




The vicious cycle of discrimination
Source: Richardson, George P., Problems with causal-loop diagrams, in: Systems Dynamics Review, Vol. 2, No. 2 (Summer 1986), pp. 158-170, here p. 164. (with graphic adaptations) <http://sysdyn.clexchange.org/sdep/Roadmaps/RM4/D-3312-2.pdf> (accessed 15 August 2009)

6. What would make the cycle a virtuous one? What would need to change?
Note:


Handout(s):
Source(s):Example from Richardson, George P., Problems with causal-loop diagrams, in: Systems Dynamics Review, Vol. 2, No. 2 (Summer 1986), pp. 158-170, here p. 164. (with graphic adaptations) <http://sysdyn.clexchange.org/sdep/Roadmaps/RM4/D-3312-2.pdf> (accessed 15 August 2009)



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