The Waterfall Effect Or The Good And Bad Streaks

The cascade effect has its origin in the medical field. This is the name given to a chain of events that can be diagnostic or therapeutic and that ultimately have a negative impact on the patient. They arise from the anxiety present in the supposed patient or in the doctor.

From that point of view, the first thing there is an unfounded fear on the part of the patient or the health professional. This leads to a chain of diagnoses: one exam following another, one suspicion leading to another. At the same time, there is a chain of treatments. However, as there is no valid foundation, in the end the patient is harmed by this cascade effect.

Based on this situation that occurs in the medical field, we now also talk about the cascade effect in everyday life. It follows the same logic: an unfounded thought, feeling, or belief that triggers a series of events. This is how many times the idea of ​​good and bad streaks is arrived at.

The waterfall effect in everyday life

Both in the medical field and in everyday life, the cascade effect arises from a situation that is incomprehensible at the moment and that generates concern or fear. In both cases, what follows is a more or less systematic process that includes the following:

• Faced with the fact that causes concern, the desire to do something to remedy the situation appears.
• A chain of events begins that, the further they advance, the less unstoppable they are.
• Consequences arise  that lead to new concerns and new chains of events.

• Gradually, negative effects are received from these events. This can be extended to other people.

We can use an example to illustrate the above. Someone thinks that their partner can be unfaithful at any time, since the relationship is not ideal. Suspicion raises her alertness and ends up motivating her to investigate the couple’s routines. He begins to find “signs” of possible infidelity: he talks a lot with “x” person and that seems suspicious.

He then concentrates on that aspect and finds out everything he can about that third person. Note that they are attractive, and that they are likely to be attractive to your partner as well. Try to be present every time there is a conversation or an encounter with that third party. His partner notices this attitude and expresses that it bothers him, which he interprets as new evidence. The situation continues to escalate until it causes a fracture in the relationship: this is the cascade effect.

The “streaks”

A streak is a time when more favorable or unfavorable events come together than usual. It is very common for such streaks to be nothing more than a manifestation of the waterfall effect.

If we return to the previous example, the suspicion of the affected person can lead him to neglect obligations to devote more time to “espionage”. Or to not pay attention in other aspects, by letting yourself be carried away by your obsession.

In this way, a “losing streak” can be triggered. The issue of the couple does not work, but at the same time problems can arise at work and in other areas. In the end, everything can end with difficulties in several of these aspects, simultaneously.

Similarly, there may be “positive streaks”. A major achievement, or a happy fortuitous event, can lead to a chain of good or pleasant events. The former gives rise to a better state of mind. This, in turn, allows decisions to be made more calmly and provides solutions that were not found before.

Handling the waterfall effect

More than good or bad streaks, what the cascade effect shows is that there are causes and consequences. Not all of them are predictable, nor are they free from chance, but most of the time they follow a logical sequence.

When there is a difficulty, a problem or a fortuitous negative event, it is important to identify it with serenity, to solve it, clarify it and solve it. Otherwise, this is very often the source of further difficulties.

What stops the cascade effect is the objective identification of the initial event. In many cases, what causes the “negative streak” has more to do with the fear that inspires the difficulty than with the difficulty itself. As a rule, by avoiding, disguising or misrepresenting a problem we multiply its negative consequences.