MENTAL MODEL · M1140

Waterbed Theory of Complexity

SystemsHigh supportSystems Theory

Included

Version 1.0.0 · Updated 2026-07-30

CORE DEFINITION

In any system, there is an inherent amount of complexity that cannot be eliminated. You can only push it from one place to another (e.g., from the user interface to the backend development, or from developers to users). Just like a waterbed, pressing down one place causes another to bulge. Scaffolding role: awareness of trade-offs. Don't be fooled by 'simplification.' Ask yourself: 'Where have we hidden the complexity?' If the user feels it's simple, it means engineers are bearing a huge amount of complexity; and vice versa.

SCAFFOLDING EFFECT

psychology

Reduce cognitive load

Awareness of trade-offs. Don't be fooled by 'simplification.' Ask yourself: 'Where have we hidden the complexity?' If the user feels it's simple, it means engineers are bearing a huge amount of complexity; and vice versa.

anchor

Anchor fast decisions

Any system has a total amount of 'inherent complexity' that cannot be eliminated, only redistributed (e.g., from the user side to the development side, or from the front end to the back end). Like a waterbed: pressing down one place causes another to bulge. The mechanism is conservation of complexity—hiding a problem is not solving it.

MINIMUM ACTION

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Practice this model in one real situation:

Identify a 'simplified experience'
Ask 'where has the complexity been transferred to?'
Assess the capacity of the receiving party
Make conscious trade-offs among parties, rather than defaulting to pushing it to the weakest (often the end user).

Check to track your progress (stored locally)

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Source support: Explicit

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en.wikipedia.orghttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Law_of_conservation_of_complexityZH · Explicit
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