That would be the term Cause-and-Effect. Example, I have a test the next but instead of studying for it, I would play games. The next day, I take the test and fail. Me not studying had the effect of me failing it. The cause of failing the test would me not studying for it. Hope this really helps!!
Life is complex so it depends on what the problem is and depending on how big the problem is, it can affect other things very small like how someone looks at you.
For example you tell becky her breath stinks, she'll look at you different because she thinks your being mean but your just being honest, instead you could have just left it alone and she wouldn't have said anything at all.
