The PJenga Framework by
Ike Aaren Hadler -
5. March 2026
Pressure, friction, and acceleration
In the PJenga Framework, structural towers are not static.
They are constantly influenced by forces that move blocks within the system.
Three fundamental dynamics shape these movements.
Pressure
Pressure represents external or internal shocks that stress a system.
Examples include:
• military conflict
• economic crises
• supply chain disruptions
• environmental disasters
• financial instability.
Pressure increases the load on specific structural blocks. When the pressure exceeds the resilience of those blocks, they shift.
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Friction
Friction represents resistance to change.
Institutions, regulations, bureaucracies, and political processes all introduce friction into systems.
Friction can have two different effects.
In some situations, it stabilizes systems by slowing rapid changes.
In other situations, excessive friction prevents necessary adjustments, allowing tension to accumulate until a larger breakdown occurs.
