2nd phenomenon example

CSGnet Archive CSG1997
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From: David Goldstein
Subject: a second example of phenomena
Date: 08/31/97

Context: what's going on; what the situation is:

        I am taking a walk in the neighborhood. I see a squirrel
climb on the tree trunk and move around the tree trunk until I
can�t see him.
Proposed controlled variable (CV):
        The squirrel moves until he cannot see me anymore.

Disturbance: what I can do to vary the CV:
        I walk around the tree trunk until I see the squirrel.
       Rationale: what makes this a disturbance:
        If the squirrel does not want to see me, it will experience an error
signal. If I can see him, I assume he can see me.

Predicted behavior: what should happen to the suspected controlled
variable if it is actually under control:

        The squirrel should move around the tree trunk so that I cannot see
him.

Observation: what actually happens when each disturbance is applied:
        This is what happens, up to a point. If I keep on doing this, the
squirrel jumps off the trunk and runs away.

Conclusion: The squirrel controls for the visual experience of seeing
me. It is probably part of a protective mechanism. If it does not work,
other ways of increasing distance from me happens.

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[From Rick Marken (970831.2245)]

David Goldstein (08/31/97) --

Very good. Here's some suggested edits.

Proposed controlled variable (CV):
        The squirrel moves until he cannot see me anymore.

I would say that the proposed controlled variable is
"sight of me" (you in this case).

Disturbance: what I can do to vary the CV:
        I walk around the tree trunk until I see the squirrel.

I think this is a disturbance because you are assuming that the
reference state for the CV is zero ("not seeing me"). So the
disturbance is really : moving so that the squirrel sees me.

This makes me realize that the "Control obsevation form" should
not only require a description of the CV but also a guess
about its reference state. Let's add that after "Proposed
controlled variable (CV)". So we need to add "Proposed reference
state of the controlled variable:" to the obsevation form.

Conclusion: The squirrel controls for the visual experience
of seeing me.

I would say: The squirrel controls the perception of seeing me,
keeping that perception at zero (not seeing me).

Nice going, David. Keep up the good work!

Best

Rick

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Richard S. Marken Phone or Fax: 310 474-0313
Life Learning Associates e-mail: rmarken@earthlink.net
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