The simplicity of causal-loop diagrams hides a subtlety, however, which poses problems which have not been adequately acknowledged. The crux of the problem with causal-loop diagrams, which this paper explores in some detail, is that they make no distinction between information links and rate-to-level links (sometimes called "conserved flows"). That simplification is usually thought to be one of the advantages of causal-loop diagrams, but it has a rather dramatic disadvantage: in cases involving rate-to-level links the standard characterizations of positive and negative polarities in causal-loop diagrams are false. This paper first exposes the difficulties in the traditional definitions of positive and negative links in causal-loop diagrams. Several possible improvements are suggested. Loops are then considered, and flaws in their traditional definitions and characterizations are uncovered, leading to the conclusion that definitions and characterizations in terms of dynamic behavior are not possible.

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