Catastrophic events are often associated with sudden, unforeseen changes that have far-reaching consequences. In various fields, from geology to psychology, the concept of catastrophic events helps to explain how complex systems can undergo rapid shifts due to small disturbances. Catastrophic events can result from both natural causes (e.g., earthquakes, hurricanes) and human activities (e.g., wars, financial collapses).
In systems theory, a "catastrophe" refers to a sudden shift in the behavior of a system, which can often be modeled mathematically. This can apply to everything from ecosystem collapse to stock market crashes. Understanding the potential for such catastrophic events is essential in various fields to mitigate risks and improve resilience against sudden disruptions.