Kontrollzustand

Kontrollzustand (from German Kontrolle “control” and Zustand “state”) is a general term denoting a condition in which control is exercised, maintained, or experienced by an agent, system, or institution. The term is used across disciplines to describe situations where parameters, behavior, or processes are actively regulated or perceived to be regulated.

In engineering and computer science, Kontrollzustand commonly denotes a mode of operation in which control logic, feedback loops, or supervisory systems maintain desired setpoints and respond to disturbances. In such contexts it contrasts with uncontrolled, passive, or failure states. In psychology, the term may describe an individual's subjective experience of being in control of actions or circumstances, often linked to concepts such as locus of control, agency, and self-efficacy. In social and political analysis, Kontrollzustand can refer to conditions in which institutions, norms, or technologies impose regulation, surveillance, or restriction on populations, emphasizing the balance between order and autonomy.

The concept highlights relationships among control mechanisms, goals, and constraints, and is used analytically to compare degrees and modes of control across systems. Related concepts include feedback control, regulatory state, autonomy, and resilience. Usage varies by field, and the term is often adapted to specific technical or theoretical frameworks to capture how control is structured and maintained.