AIM Framework glossary
Friction Compounding Effect
Canonical definition
Friction Compounding Effect is the mutual reinforcement of the four buffering mechanisms (institutional friction, Belief heterogeneity, A-floor security, I-domain vitality) during stability periods, producing a self-reinforcing stability cycle; and the reverse phenomenon, cascading failure with buffer inversion, during collapse. The Friction Compounding Effect provides the buffer-level mechanism for the Seneca Asymmetry: independent operation during growth produces robust stability; coupled failure during collapse produces rapid disintegration.
Explanation
During stable times, each safety mechanism makes the others work better, courts protect the press, the press protects institutions, institutions protect welfare, welfare protects people's ability to think clearly, clear thinking keeps disagreement healthy, healthy disagreement supports court independence. During collapse, the same connections work in reverse, each failure causes other failures, and the disagreement mechanism can flip from a brake to an accelerator, which is why civilisations fall much faster than they rise. See Seneca Asymmetry, Subcriticality Maintenance Principle, Institutional Brake, Buffer Inversion.
Epistemic status
Framework-Specific Construct.