Symptomatic solutions exacerbate fundamental causes

The “shifting the burden” structure explains a wide range of behaviors were well-intended solutions are adopted because they are simple and easy, but they are actually merely symptomatic solutions. They may result in apparent improvement in the near-term (and adopting them is evidence of “doing something about the problem”), but easing a problem’s symptoms also diminishes the need to find a fundamental solution that addresses it decisively.

Beware the symptomatic solution. Solutions that address only the symptoms of a problem, not fundamental causes, tend to have short-term benefits at best. In the long term, the problem resurfaces and there is increased pressure for symptomatic response. Meanwhile, the capability for fundamental solutions can atrophy.

How can a “shifting the burden” structure be recognized?

There are three clues to the presence of a shifting the burden structure. First, there’s a problem that gets gradually worse over the long term—although every so often it seems to get better for a while. Second, the overall health of the system gradually worsens. Third, there’s a growing feeling of helplessness. People start out feeling euphoric—they’ve solved their problem!—but instead end up feeling as if they are victims.^[1]

#systems-thinking