From Phil Runkel on 10 Mar 98.
HELP HELP HELP. Please straighten me out.
I never could make sense of conditioning, not when I was 20 years
old and not now when I am 80. And I baffle myself trying to
write about conditioning in a way that suits me even though I
have read many of the postings on the CSGnet explaining how an
episode called conditioning would look to PCT. Below I have
tried to describe two episodes in a manner that makes them
logically parallel. But I am not at all confident that my logic
succeeds.
Episode 1:
Will the control system for walking (getting one foot in front of
the other without falling down) suffice to get you to the
library? No. Walking can get you anywhere (so to speak). Will
the control system for seeing yourself within the library suffice
to guide your walking in the direction of the library? Yes. Now
what about a sign that you see part way there that reads, "This
way to the library"? That sign and a lot of other familiar
sights serve as subgoals and enable you to keep on the path.
Episode 2:
Will the control system for salivating suffice to bring you food
(meat powder)? No. Salivating can get you ready to chew on
various kinds of foods or none at all. Salivating is an early
portion of the program for eating, but salivating can be a part
of other programs, too: maybe cooling or chewing on a stick.
Will the control system for eating suffice to activate
salivation? Yes. Now what about a bell that you have come to
understand signals meat powder just around the corner? That
sound and a lot of other familiar experiences serve as subgoals
and enable you to keep on the path: seeing food, smelling it,
hearing it frying.
How should my parallels be altered? Thanks for all ideas.