What is a Decoherence Event?
Remember that comfortable state of coherent indifference we discussed? Well, systems don't stay in that state forever. Something eventually comes along to shake things up. In the GSC model, we call this a "decoherence event" - a high-information disruption that ejects a system from its stable state.
Think of it like throwing a rock into a still pond. The calm surface (your coherent indifference) gets disrupted by the impact, creating ripples that spread outward. The system can no longer maintain its previous equilibrium - it's been forced to respond to something new.
Real-World Example: The GovHack Challenge
In our GovHack journey, the catalyst was encountering the "Better Questions for Brighter Futures" challenge. Initially, we were in a state of coherent indifference - casually aware of the competition but not particularly motivated to participate.
But when we read the full, prescriptive details of the challenge, something interesting happened. The user noted: "Um, ok, well this all looks very prescriptive and not at all open to broader uncertainties or the kind of coherent indifference that I'm operating under. But, that in itself is enough of an environment shock for me to become interested."
The Key Insight
The challenge's internal contradiction - its constructive, future-focused title versus its deconstructive, failure-focused "premortem" methodology - created an informational paradox. This paradox acted as the decoherence event, forcing us to engage with the problem in a new way.
Why Problems Become Catalysts
Problems don't just present obstacles - they present opportunities for systems to evolve. When a system encounters something that doesn't fit its current understanding, it has two choices: adapt or break down.
The GSC model suggests that the universe preferentially selects for systems that can adapt and become more complex. So when a decoherence event occurs, it's not just a disruption - it's an invitation to become something more interesting.
The Transformation Process
When a decoherence event occurs, the system is forced to select a new state from the "adjacent web of possibilities." This isn't random - the system is drawn toward states that offer greater informational richness.
In our case, instead of simply complying with the challenge as presented, we chose to reframe it entirely. We asked different questions, applied a new analytical framework, and ultimately created something more complex and interesting than the original problem required.