Which statement describes a characteristic of negative feedback?

Negative feedback is a crucial concept in systems theory, particularly within environmental systems and societies. It refers to a process that counteracts deviations from a set point or equilibrium, thereby promoting stability within a system. This characteristic supports the maintenance of a steady-state condition, where any change is met with a response that reduces that change.

For example, in temperature regulation, when the body temperature rises above a certain threshold, mechanisms such as sweating are activated to cool the body down, effectively counteracting the change. This balancing act is essential for the sustainability of ecosystems and can also apply to populations, where increases in a population may prompt increased competition for resources, ultimately leading to a stabilization in population numbers.

Understanding negative feedback is fundamental as it reveals how natural processes respond to changes, helping maintain equilibrium in both ecological and societal contexts.