[From Rick Marken (970912.1000)]
Bill Powers (970912.0400 MDT) --
Putting all these observations together, we can arrive at a clear
conclusion: the consequence produced by a given behavior has no
particular amount or direction of effect on behavior...
Since the production of the consequence remains the same over a
set of different behaviors and contingencies, its occurrance
cannot explain _any_ of the behaviors that produce it. If taken
as a cause of one behavior that does occur, it can't also be
taken as the cause of a different behavior that didn't occur
this time but did occur at another time, or as the cause
of a behavior directed oppositely, which also didn't occur. Its
causal properties would have to change with each change of
contingency, so as to cause exactly the behavior needed to
produce itself, no matter what that behavior might be.
This renders the concept of the consequence as a cause vacuous.
Gorgeous. Just gorgeous.
But I know it will be just another easily resisted disturbance
to the a perception of PCT/EAB compatability. So, since I am
in such a good mood lately, I will try to save all those who
can't seem to kiss behaviorism goodby a litle trouble and do
the resisting for them:
"Well, Bill, the behaviorists already knew all that. That's why
they call consequences "reinforcers"; they know that the consequences
don't cause behavior; consequences just reinforce behavior. This
is all completely compatible with PCT; PCT just hasn't recognized
this compatability because it's led by a bunch of fanatics,
especially that Rick Jagger guy".
ยทยทยท
----------
I would like to thank Bruce Gregory and Richard Thurman (hi Rich!!)
for their excellent "model based control" song suggestions. But I
just thought of the best one: John Lennon's "Imagine"
Best
Rick McCartney
--
Richard S. Marken Phone or Fax: 310 474-0313
Life Learning Associates e-mail: rmarken@earthlink.net
http://home.earthlink.net/~rmarken