Relating patterns and anti-patterns LO22784

d.l.dwiggins@computer.org
Sat, 2 Oct 1999 20:34:10 -0700

Here's a message I saw on another mailing list, that I thought presents an
interesting model. It reminds me somewhat of At's complementary duals and
force-flux pairs.

Don Dwiggins "All models are false,
SEI Information Technology but some are useful"
d.l.dwiggins@computer.org -- George Box, "Statistics for Experiments"

------- Start of forwarded message -------
From: "Rolf F. Katzenberger" <rfkat@ibm.net>
To: patterns-discussion@cs.uiuc.edu
Subject: Relating patterns and anti-patterns
Date: Mon, 13 Sep 1999 16:26:07 +0200

While reading a german book on psychology [1], I came across an
interesting structure which the author called "the square of values and of
evolution". The structure is based on a few premises:

* virtues come in pairs, i.e. each virtue is balanced by a sister
virtue;
* each virtue can be undermined by exaggerating it
* exaggerated virtues come in pairs, where each one is an
overcompensation of the other one

Graphically, one can depict it like this:

GoodA <-------- positive tension -------> GoodB
| ^ ^ |
| |_______________ ___________________| |
| opposites \ / opposites |
| X |
| _______________/ \___________________ |
| | | |
V V V V
ExaggeratedA <--- overcompensation --> ExaggeratedB

where GoodA is to be balanced by GoodB, ExaggeratedA is also the
opposite of GoodB and ExaggeratedB is also the opposite of GoodA.

An example would be:

Trust <------- positive tension ------> Prudence
| ^ ^ |
| |_______________ ___________________| |
| opposites \ / opposites |
| X |
| _______________/ \___________________ |
| | | |
V V V V
Credulity <----- overcompensation -----> Paranoia

The "square of values and evolution" offers not only a means to describe a
situation; it also makes it clear that each anti-virtue is rooted in good,
though exaggerated intentions. Therefore, it shows ways to amend the
situation (by moving upwards diagonally) and ways to make the situation
even more worse (by overcompensating the current behavior).

{Example of application to software design patterns snipped by DD}

Best regards,
Rolf

[1] Friedemann Schulz von Thun: Miteinander reden. Stile, Werte und
Persönlichkeitsentwicklung
______________________________________________________________________
Rolf F. Katzenberger | Software Developer | Trainer 1998-11-18
Home: http://www.geocities.com/SiliconValley/Park/9557
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------- End of forwarded message -------

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