The terms
virtuous circle and
vicious circle (also referred to as
virtuous cycle and
vicious cycle) refer to complex chains of events which reinforce themselves through a
feedback loop. A
virtuous circle has favorable results, while a
vicious circle has detrimental results. Both circles are complexes of events with no tendency towards
equilibrium (at least in the short run). Both systems of events have feedback loops in which each iteration of the cycle reinforces the previous one (
positive feedback). These cycles will continue in the direction of their momentum until an external factor intervenes and breaks the cycle. The prefix "hyper-" is sometimes used to describe these cycles if they are extreme. The best-known example of a vicious circle is
hyperinflation.