The technical term for it is "negative feedback loop." The rest of us just call it a panic.
<sigh>
This is why "the rest of us" should stop writing crap about what's going on and pretending they understand it at all.
(Sorry, I can't type those words without cringing). "The womb that spawned that thing is fertile yet"
As for metaphors, vicious circle is better. A vivid image of what should exist acts as a surrogate for reality. Pursuit of the image then prevents pursuit of the reality -- John K. Galbraith
