Researching Perceptual Control Theory (PCT)
(Page Updated 12/23/23)
For us to transition to a holistic bowling coach business
model, it is crucial that the Perceptual Control Theory of how all living
things function supersedes popular psychology based on the
culturally-conditioned and illusionary philosophy of “controlling behaviors.”
According to Perceptual Control Theory, individuals do not control behaviors;
behavior is the control of perceptions.
PCT – The 2016 Book of Readings
It has been called “The PCT Handbook”.
Perceptual Control Theory, An Overview of the Third Grand Theory in Psychology Introductions, Readings, and Resources
Dag Forssell, Editor
https://www.livingcontrolsystems.com/download/pct_readings_ebook_2016.pdf
Rodin’s The Thinker is associated with the René Descartes’ philosophical statement: I think—therefore I am. Once you understand PCT, you realize that control is the fundamental process of life. All living organisms control as long as they live and when control ceases, life ceases. Control and living are inexorably intertwined. Thus: I control—therefore I live—therefore I control—therefore I live...
This book is all about a scientific revolution in progress. A perspective:
A revolution occurred in the engineering sciences
In 1927, Harold Stephen Black, an American electrical engineer, revolutionized the field of applied electronics by inventing the negative feedback amplifier, a control device. Some consider his invention to be the most important breakthrough of the twentieth century in the field of electronics because of its wide application.
Today, we are surrounded by control devices that are doing work humans used to perform. One application most everyone is familiar with is the cruise control in your car. Here, instead of the driver monitoring the speed of the car and speeding up or slowing down as needed, a negative feedback control circuit compares the speed of the car to the speed set by the driver, and the moment they differ moves the accelerator as needed.
The problem this book addresses
Engineers understand how control works and now build capable robots, but most people (including psychologists) have only a very general sense that we control and do not yet understand this fundamental, very simple phenomenon that is ubiquitous in nature. As a result, people all around the world, in all walks of life, of all persuasions, scientists and lay people alike, are profoundly ignorant of how living organisms— and that includes people—actually function. We all suffer the consequences of this ignorance—in our personal lives, on the job, in our society and all over the world. Dr. Tim Carey has called this our greatest global challenge.
A scientific revolution in the life sciences is on the way
Understanding the phenomenon of control provides an explanation for the way living organisms behave, what behavior is, how it works, and what it accomplishes. This understanding has been developed by William T. Powers in great detail for years. Powers’ work, which applies the theory of control to the field of psychology, is now called Perceptual Control Theory, PCT. It lays a foundation for psychology and related life sciences to become natural sciences rather than merely descriptive arts.
All control systems control their perceptions, not their behavior or actions (output). Living organisms behave in order to perceive that which they want to experience. Behavior/action is automatic—what it needs to be under the circumstances to make perceptions match internal specifications, wants. This is why behavior is the wrong thing to study. Behavior/action is not what life is about; it is about perceiving/experiencing that which you want to experience. This instant as well as in the long run.
By reading a few of the articles from The Book of Readings, you will understand why I think PCT is crucial to discovering that free individuals do have the innate capability to move beyond all inapt culturally-conditioned values.
I suggest you start your lesson with “PCT in 11 Steps” by William T. Powers (2009) for a short introduction (Pg. 21).
Let us now continue our inquiry into this little known, but extremely important natural, inherent mechanism we, as living control systems, utilize to control our subjective and objective perceptions.
Subjective Perception Levels:
PCT models a hierarchical progression of billons of interconnected perceptual control systems. This 11-levels system is presented and researched here as a unified theory of behavior.
I purposefully limited my preliminary research to the top three subjective reality levels during the initial design of the Optima Bowling Coach system as follows:
System Concepts (Perception Level 11):
- Individual
- Social
- Environment
- Performance
Principles (Perception Level 10):
- Unity consciousness
- Individual as the locus of control
- Respectfully dialogue-driven
- Infinite optimization of innate capacities
- Integrity (wholeness)
Procedure (Perception Level 9):
Through dialogue and self-research for self-development monitored by lifespan performance activation, the aim is to ultimately help each student establish an individual-focused, performer-controlled, performance program.
The Basic PCT Control System:
Human beings are self-controlled, living control systems. To help explain how a living control system operates, I’ve borrowed the graphical representation of a single control system below from “A Brief Introduction to Perceptual Control Theory” by William T. Powers (2003).
A single, basic living control system is a fractal process. “A fractal is a never-ending pattern. Fractals are infinitely complex patterns that are self-similar across different scales. They are created by repeating a simple process over and over in an ongoing feedback loop” (Quote from fractalfoundation.org). An infinite number of living control system processes are repeated and arranged into a hierarchical system, located in the brain.
The grey bar across the diagram separates the active control system (above) from the environment (below). The red lines show the closed causal loop of control. Small circles in the environment show where physical variables can be measured: an output quantity, an input quantity, and a disturbing quantity. The green lines indicate effects of independent variables: the reference signal and the disturbing quantity. The Input Function converts a sensed variable in the environment to a signal representing it inside the system; the Output Function converts the error signal into a physical effect on the environment.
Hierarchical Perception Control Theory (HPCT):
Of course, you can expect a comprehensive presentation as we continue our Perceptual Control Theory research covering all 11 perceptual control levels and functionality of people as living control systems as we move forward.
See More: What is PCT?
The basic breakdown into levels of the perceptual control systems:
- 11. System Concept = Beliefs about how things ought to be
- 10. Principles = General standards for guiding programs
- 9. Programs = A decision system that leads to choices about actions available in our behavioral lower level of perception
- 8. Sequence = Complex ordering of events
- 7. Category = Classification of events
- 6. Relationship = Recognition of association between events
- 5. Event = Recognition of continuity in experience
- 4. Transition = Recognition of changes in configuration
- 3. Configuration = Patterns of sensation
- 2. Sensation = The quality of a sensory event
- 1. Intensity = The awareness threshold
Important Note:
- Levels 11 through 7 are subjective reality perceptions.
- While levels 6 through 1 are objective reality perceptions.
Remember this distinction between subjective and objective perceptions. It will increase your understanding of PCT and why I am laser-focused on moving beyond the psychology of behaviorism/cognitivism to perceptual control.
When you begin to comprehend PCT and the subjective, objective levels distinction, apply it to your life. You will experience an internal dialogue that will drastically improve your relationships.
Go here to learn more about PCT