Examples of everyday control (was Re: Somebody should take this on)

[From Rick Marken (2015.09.15.1800)]

···

On Tue, Sep 15, 2015 at 1:58 AM, Boris Hartman boris.hartman@masicom.net wrote:

RM: Maybe I should start the ball rolling so here are some examples off the top of my head:

Behavior Controlled Variable Reference State Action Disturbances

============================================================================

Sip Tea Position of Cup At lips Lift, tip cup Amount of tea in cup

Scramble eggs Runniness of eggs Just right Stir, om burner Burner temp,

amount of eggs

Floss teeth Amount of stuff No stuff Pull floss Space between teeth,

between teeth between teeth amount of stuff

between teeth

Bar press in Amount of food Enough Press bar Presses per pellet

Skinner box size of pellet

Compliance with How far you will Pretty far Do what you Experimenter’s requests,

authority (Milgrim go along are told subject’s screams

experiment)


RM: OK, now you can all take it from there. Let’s get empirical!

HB : Well master Rick told the theoretical backgroung and others should perform it in practice. You are really joking aren’t you ?

RM: I have no idea what you are talking about. But I think it would be a great exercise for people to try to extend this table to other behaviors. So I’m posting this again (under a more appropriate subject head) to see if anyone is willing to give it a try. I think its a nice opportunity to learn to look at behavior through control theory glasses.

Best

Rick

Richard S. Marken

www.mindreadings.com
Author of Doing Research on Purpose.
Now available from Amazon or Barnes & Noble

The theoretical background is wrong. It’s not »Control of behavior«, it’s »Control of perception« …

···

From: Richard Marken [mailto:rsmarken@gmail.com]
Sent: Wednesday, September 16, 2015 2:54 AM
To: csgnet@lists.illinois.edu
Cc: Richard Marken
Subject: Examples of everyday control (was Re: Somebody should take this on)

[From Rick Marken (2015.09.15.1800)]

On Tue, Sep 15, 2015 at 1:58 AM, Boris Hartman boris.hartman@masicom.net wrote:

RM: Maybe I should start the ball rolling so here are some examples off the top of my head:

Behavior Controlled Variable Reference State Action Disturbances

============================================================================

Sip Tea Position of Cup At lips Lift, tip cup Amount of tea in cup

Scramble eggs Runniness of eggs Just right Stir, om burner Burner temp,

amount of eggs

Floss teeth Amount of stuff No stuff Pull floss Space between teeth,

between teeth between teeth amount of stuff

between teeth

Bar press in Amount of food Enough Press bar Presses per pellet

Skinner box size of pellet

Compliance with How far you will Pretty far Do what you Experimenter’s requests,

authority (Milgrim go along are told subject’s screams

experiment)


RM: OK, now you can all take it from there. Let’s get empirical!

HB : Well master Rick told the theoretical backgroung and others should perform it in practice. You are really joking aren’t you ?

RM: I have no idea what you are talking about. But I think it would be a great exercise for people to try to extend this table to other behaviors. So I’m posting this again (under a more appropriate subject head) to see if anyone is willing to give it a try. I think its a nice opportunity to learn to look at behavior through control theory glasses.

Best

Rick

Richard S. Marken

www.mindreadings.com
Author of Doing Research on Purpose.

Now available from Amazon or Barnes & Noble

[From Rick Marken (2015.09.16.1020)]

···

On Wed, Sep 16, 2015 at 2:00 AM, Boris Hartman boris.hartman@masicom.net wrote:

BH: The theoretical background is wrong. It’s not »Control of behavior«, it’s »Control of perception« …

RM: This is a non-sequitur (it doesn’t follow from what I was proposing). What I was proposing is that we do an exercise where we describe examples of everyday behavior in terms of the observable components of control: controlled variable, reference state, action and disturbance. There is no theory involved here. I would just like to see an objective description of behavior. I provided the table below as an example of what I would like to see. I think it’s important to get a feel for the phenomenon we are trying to understand – the controlling done by living organisms – before we start erecting complex theoretical structures that may be unnecessary. So how about giving it a try; add  a couple more examples to the table below of behaviors described in terms of the variables involved in control.Â

BestÂ

Rick

RM: Maybe I should start the ball rolling so here are some examples off the top of my head:Â

Â

Behavior       Controlled Variable      Reference State     Action          Disturbances     Â

============================================================================

Sip Tea         Position of Cup         At lips        Lift, tip cup      Amount of tea in cup

                                                          Â

Scramble eggs   Runniness of eggs       Just right      Stir, om burner       Burner temp,

                                                             amount of eggs

Â

Floss teeth       Amount of stuff        No stuff        Pull floss        Space between teeth,

               between teeth                     between teeth       amount of stuffÂ

                                                              between teeth

Â

Bar press in      Amount of food         Enough       Press bar        Presses per pellet

Skinner box                                                      size of pellet

  Â

Compliance with    How far you will        Pretty far      Do what you     Experimenter’s requests,Â

authority (Milgrim     go along                         are told          subject’s screams    Â

experiment)


[From Rupert Young (2015.09.17 20.30)]

(Rick Marken (2015.09.15.1800)]

Great idea! I've thought for a long time it would be useful to have

an online repository of the perceptions that we control, which we
could view and add to when we think of them. We could build up an
extensive library of variables for all levels. It would be useful
for our own reference but also for those unfamiliar with PCT. If
there is interest I may look at setting one up.

I can think of loads but here's just a few to get started. I can add

more when I have more time. The second one was as reported by
chinese artist Ai Wei Wei yesterday about when he was detained by
the authorities in China.

Behavior
Controlled Variable
Reference State
Action
Disturbances
Nose scratching
itchy
feeling
No itch
Press nail up and down
nose

Cold, flies

Nose scratching
itchy
feeling
No itch
Ask
permission from

                    prison guard
                Mood of

guard
Shower control
Water temperature
Comfortable
Turn mixer tap
Air temperature,

            heater strength

Moving computer cursor
Cursor position
Somewhere
Move mouse
Fluff, edge of screen
TV volume control
Loudness
Audible
Press remote button
Ambient noise, age
Care of environment
Quality of environment
Better than when born
Recycle, buy solar panels
Local amenities, funds
Sunbathing
Colour of skin,

            feeling of warmth

brown, hot
Lie in sun
Clouds, temperature

              Regards,

              Rupert
···

                    RM: Maybe I should start the

ball rolling so here are some examples off the
top of my head:

                    Behavior          

Controlled Variable Reference State
Action Disturbances

============================================================================


RM: OK, now you can all take
it from there. Let’s get empirical!

                    HB

: Well master Rick told the theoretical
backgroung and others should perform it in
practice. You are really joking aren’t you ?

          RM: I have no idea what you are talking about. But I

think it would be a great exercise for people to try to
extend this table to other behaviors. So I’m posting this
again (under a more appropriate subject head) to see if
anyone is willing to give it a try. I think its a nice
opportunity to learn to look at behavior through control
theory glasses.

exercise

···

On Thu, Sep 17, 2015 at 12:34 PM, Rupert Young rupert@perceptualrobots.com wrote:

[From Rupert Young (2015.09.17 20.30)]

(Rick Marken (2015.09.15.1800)]
Great idea! I've thought for a long time it would be useful to have

an online repository of the perceptions that we control, which we
could view and add to when we think of them. We could build up an
extensive library of variables for all levels. It would be useful
for our own reference but also for those unfamiliar with PCT. If
there is interest I may look at setting one up.

I can think of loads but here's just a few to get started. I can add

more when I have more time. The second one was as reported by
chinese artist Ai Wei Wei yesterday about when he was detained by
the authorities in China.

Behavior
Controlled Variable
Reference State
Action
Disturbances
Nose scratching
itchy
feeling
No itch
Press nail up and down
nose

Cold, flies

Nose scratching
itchy
feeling
No itch
Ask
permission from

                    prison guard
                Mood of

guard
Shower control
Water temperature
Comfortable
Turn mixer tap
Air temperature,

            heater strength

Moving computer cursor
Cursor position
Somewhere
Move mouse
Fluff, edge of screen
TV volume control
Loudness
Audible
Press remote button
Ambient noise, age
Care of environment
Quality of environment
Better than when born
Recycle, buy solar panels
Local amenities, funds
Sunbathing
Colour of skin,

            feeling of warmth

brown, hot
Lie in sun
Clouds, temperature

              Regards,

              Rupert

                    RM: Maybe I should start the

ball rolling so here are some examples off the
top of my head:

                    Behavior          

Controlled Variable Reference State
Action Disturbances

============================================================================

                ...
                    RM: OK,  now you can all take

it from there. Let’s get empirical!

                    HB

: Well master Rick told the theoretical
backgroung and others should perform it in
practice. You are really joking aren’t you ?

          RM: I have no idea what you are talking about. But I

think it would be a great exercise for people to try to
extend this table to other behaviors. So I’m posting this
again (under a more appropriate subject head) to see if
anyone is willing to give it a try. I think its a nice
opportunity to learn to look at behavior through control
theory glasses.

Barb P: Would these be correct, and if not, how would you correct them?

Behavior controlled variable reference state action disturbances

exercise personal health well being running weather, fatigue

eating hunger satiated make sandwich No peanut butter

writing produce a novel to be published typing writer’s block

···

On Thu, Sep 17, 2015 at 12:34 PM, Rupert Young rupert@perceptualrobots.com wrote:

[From Rupert Young (2015.09.17 20.30)]

(Rick Marken (2015.09.15.1800)]
Great idea! I've thought for a long time it would be useful to have

an online repository of the perceptions that we control, which we
could view and add to when we think of them. We could build up an
extensive library of variables for all levels. It would be useful
for our own reference but also for those unfamiliar with PCT. If
there is interest I may look at setting one up.

I can think of loads but here's just a few to get started. I can add

more when I have more time. The second one was as reported by
chinese artist Ai Wei Wei yesterday about when he was detained by
the authorities in China.

Behavior
Controlled Variable
Reference State
Action
Disturbances
Nose scratching
itchy
feeling
No itch
Press nail up and down
nose

Cold, flies

Nose scratching
itchy
feeling
No itch
Ask
permission from

                    prison guard
                Mood of

guard
Shower control
Water temperature
Comfortable
Turn mixer tap
Air temperature,

            heater strength

Moving computer cursor
Cursor position
Somewhere
Move mouse
Fluff, edge of screen
TV volume control
Loudness
Audible
Press remote button
Ambient noise, age
Care of environment
Quality of environment
Better than when born
Recycle, buy solar panels
Local amenities, funds
Sunbathing
Colour of skin,

            feeling of warmth

brown, hot
Lie in sun
Clouds, temperature

              Regards,

              Rupert

                    RM: Maybe I should start the

ball rolling so here are some examples off the
top of my head:

                    Behavior          

Controlled Variable Reference State
Action Disturbances

============================================================================

                ...
                    RM: OK,  now you can all take

it from there. Let’s get empirical!

                    HB

: Well master Rick told the theoretical
backgroung and others should perform it in
practice. You are really joking aren’t you ?

          RM: I have no idea what you are talking about. But I

think it would be a great exercise for people to try to
extend this table to other behaviors. So I’m posting this
again (under a more appropriate subject head) to see if
anyone is willing to give it a try. I think its a nice
opportunity to learn to look at behavior through control
theory glasses.

[From Fred Nickols (2015.09.17.1603)]

Here is my submission. It reflects a “live� case.

Controlled Variable

Reference Value

Perceived Value

Behavior(s)

Disturbance(s)

Employment Status

Employed as certified health aide

Unemployed

Seek Employment

Not Certified

Certification Status

Certified

Not Certified

Register for, Take & Pass Certification Test

Not Registered for Test
Test not Taken

Test not Passed

Registration Status

Registered for Test

Not Registered

Fill Out & Submit Registration Form

Incorrectly filled out

Incompletely filled out

Submitted after deadline

Test Taken Status

Test Taken

Not Taken

Show up and take test

Failure to show up

Test Passed Status

Passing Score

Confidence level of test taker

Score determined and reported by testing company

Study

Lack of knowledge being tested

One of the things it illustrates, which Bill commended me for, is the notion of a “chain� or series of CVs leading from proximate to ultimate, in this case, from getting registered through taking and passing the test, getting certified and then getting employed.

Fred Nickols

···

From: bara0361@gmail.com [mailto:bara0361@gmail.com]
Sent: Thursday, September 17, 2015 3:08 PM
To: csgnet@lists.illinois.edu
Subject: Re: Examples of everyday control (was Re: Somebody should take this on)

Barb P: Would these be correct, and if not, how would you correct them?

Behavior controlled variable reference state action disturbances

exercise personal health well being running weather, fatigue

eating hunger satiated make sandwich No peanut butter

writing produce a novel to be published typing writer’s block

On Thu, Sep 17, 2015 at 12:34 PM, Rupert Young rupert@perceptualrobots.com wrote:

[From Rupert Young (2015.09.17 20.30)]

(Rick Marken (2015.09.15.1800)]


RM: Maybe I should start the ball rolling so here are some examples off the top of my head:

Behavior Controlled Variable Reference State Action Disturbances

============================================================================

RM: OK, now you can all take it from there. Let’s get empirical!

HB : Well master Rick told the theoretical backgroung and others should perform it in practice. You are really joking aren’t you ?

RM: I have no idea what you are talking about. But I think it would be a great exercise for people to try to extend this table to other behaviors. So I’m posting this again (under a more appropriate subject head) to see if anyone is willing to give it a try. I think its a nice opportunity to learn to look at behavior through control theory glasses.

Great idea! I’ve thought for a long time it would be useful to have an online repository of the perceptions that we control, which we could view and add to when we think of them. We could build up an extensive library of variables for all levels. It would be useful for our own reference but also for those unfamiliar with PCT. If there is interest I may look at setting one up.

I can think of loads but here’s just a few to get started. I can add more when I have more time. The second one was as reported by chinese artist Ai Wei Wei yesterday about when he was detained by the authorities in China.

Behavior

Controlled Variable

Reference State

Action

Disturbances

Nose scratching

itchy feeling

No itch

Press nail up and down nose

Cold, flies

Nose scratching

itchy feeling

No itch

Ask permission from
prison guard

Mood of guard

Shower control

Water temperature

Comfortable

Turn mixer tap

Air temperature,
heater strength

Moving computer cursor

Cursor position

Somewhere

Move mouse

Fluff, edge of screen

TV volume control

Loudness

Audible

Press remote button

Ambient noise, age

Care of environment

Quality of environment

Better than when born

Recycle, buy solar panels

Local amenities, funds

Sunbathing

Colour of skin,
feeling of warmth

brown, hot

Lie in sun

Clouds, temperature

Regards,
Rupert

[From Rick Marken (2015.09.17.1445)]

RM:Gold stars for Rupert, Barb and Fred for handing in their examples of everyday control These are all excellent (yours look great Barb). It makes my heart soar like a hawk (remember the movie  “Little Big Man”?) to see such excellent work and clear understanding of the basic phenomenon that is explained by PCT – CONTROL. I am going to take Rupert’s excellent advice and put all of these (and any more that come in – I still have plenty of gold stars left and you can win more than one;-) into a spreadsheet. Once I get that done I’ll post it and comment on what we might be able to learn from it.Â

Best regards

Rick

···

On Thu, Sep 17, 2015 at 1:06 PM, Fred Nickols fred@nickols.us wrote:

[From Fred Nickols (2015.09.17.1603)]

Â

Here is my submission. It reflects a “live� case.

Â

Controlled Variable

Reference Value

Perceived Value

Behavior(s)

Disturbance(s)

Employment Status

Employed as certified health aide

Unemployed

Seek Employment

Not Certified

Certification Status

Certified

Not Certified

Register for, Take & Pass Certification Test

Not Registered for Test
Test not Taken

Test not Passed

Registration Status

Registered for Test

Not Registered

Fill Out & Submit Registration Form

Incorrectly filled out

Incompletely filled out

Submitted after deadline

Test Taken Status

Test Taken

Not Taken

Show up and take test

Failure to show up

Test Passed Status

Passing Score

Confidence level of test taker

Score determined and reported by testing company

Study

Lack of knowledge being tested

Â

One of the things it illustrates, which Bill commended me for, is the notion of a “chain� or series of CVs leading from proximate to ultimate, in this case, from getting registered through taking and passing the test, getting certified and then getting employed.

Â

Fred Nickols

Â

From: bara0361@gmail.com [mailto:bara0361@gmail.com]
Sent: Thursday, September 17, 2015 3:08 PM
To: csgnet@lists.illinois.edu
Subject: Re: Examples of everyday control (was Re: Somebody should take this on)

Â

Barb P:Â Would these be correct, and if not, how would you correct them?

Â

Â

Behavior              controlled variable     reference state              action                           disturbances

Â

exercise                   personal health             well being                      running                            weather, fatigue

Â

eating                      hunger                           satiated                         make sandwich              No peanut butter

Â

writing                     produce a novel           to be published             typing                              writer’s block

Â

Â

Â

Â

On Thu, Sep 17, 2015 at 12:34 PM, Rupert Young rupert@perceptualrobots.com wrote:

[From Rupert Young (2015.09.17 20.30)]

(Rick Marken (2015.09.15.1800)]

Â


RM: Maybe I should start the ball rolling so here are some examples off the top of my head:Â

Â

Behavior       Controlled Variable      Reference State     Action          Disturbances     Â

============================================================================

RM: OK, Â now you can all take it from there. Let’s get empirical!

Â

HB : Well master Rick told the theoretical backgroung and others should perform it in practice. You are really joking aren’t you ?

Â

RM: I have no idea what you are talking about. But I think it would be a great exercise for people to try to extend this table to other behaviors. So I’m posting this again (under a more appropriate subject head) to see if anyone is willing to give it a try. I think its a nice opportunity to learn to look at behavior through control theory glasses. Â

Â

Great idea! I’ve thought for a long time it would be useful to have an online repository of the perceptions that we control, which we could view and add to when we think of them. We could build up an extensive library of variables for all levels. It would be useful for our own reference but also for those unfamiliar with PCT. If there is interest I may look at setting one up.

I can think of loads but here’s just a few to get started. I can add more when I have more time. The second one was as reported by chinese artist Ai Wei Wei yesterday about when he was detained by the authorities in China.    Â
           Â

Behavior

Controlled Variable

Reference State

Action

Disturbances

Nose scratching

itchy feeling

No itch

Press nail up and down nose

Cold, flies

Nose scratching

itchy feeling

No itch

Ask permission from
prison guard

Mood of guard

Shower control

Water temperature

Comfortable

Turn mixer tap

Air temperature,
heater strength

Moving computer cursor

Cursor position

Somewhere

Move mouse

Fluff, edge of screen

TV volume control

Loudness

Audible

Press remote button

Ambient noise, age

Care of environment

Quality of environment

Better than when born

Recycle, buy solar panels

Local amenities, funds

Sunbathing

Colour of skin,
feeling of warmth

brown, hot

Lie in sun

Clouds, temperature

Regards,
Rupert

Â

Â


Richard S. MarkenÂ

www.mindreadings.com
Author of  Doing Research on Purpose
Now available from Amazon or Barnes & Noble

[From Rupert Young (2015.09.20 21.30)]

(Rick Marken (2015.09.17.1445)]
      RM:Gold stars for Rupert, Barb and Fred for handing in

their examples of everyday control These are all excellent
(yours look great Barb). It makes my heart soar like a hawk
(remember the movie “Little Big Man”?) to see such excellent
work and clear understanding of the basic phenomenon that is
explained by PCT – CONTROL. I am going to take Rupert’s
excellent advice and put all of these (and any more that come
in – I still have plenty of gold stars left and you can win
more than one;-) into a spreadsheet. Once I get that done I’ll
post it and comment on what we might be able to learn from it.

May I suggest some fields for recording additional information:

Date - date of submission

Submitter - person who submitted record

Level - estimate of level in hierarchy

Sub-goal - controlled variable at next level down; I think this is

useful for considering what the output of the control system is, and
also for generating the whole chain of goals in the sub-hierarchy

First though, would you clarify your usage of "behaviour" and

“action”. Are they from the perspective of the observer? Are they
interchangeable, albeit at different scales?

Here's another one.

Behavior

Controlled Variable

Reference State

Action

Disturbances

Laughing
Opportunities
for comedic

        political satire

High

          Urge all American acquaintances to vote

for
Donald Trump to be President

People, common sense

Well, it's clear that the inclusion of Donald Trump on GOP platform

is just a Republican conspiracy to make Jeb Bush seem credible and
electable (anyone would seem credible next to DT!).

Don't let them get away with it. Vote Trump!

Regards,

Rupert
···

[From Rick Marken (2015.09.20.1350)]

···

Rupert Young (2015.09.20 21.30)]

May I suggest some fields for recording additional information:



Date - date of submission

Submitter - person who submitted record

Level - estimate of level in hierarchy

Sub-goal - controlled variable at next level down; I think this is

useful for considering what the output of the control system is, and
also for generating the whole chain of goals in the sub-hierarchy

First though, would you clarify your usage of "behaviour" and

“action”. Are they from the perspective of the observer? Are they
interchangeable, albeit at different scales?

RM: What a coincidence. I was going to post the spreadsheet today but I got diverted (as usual). But I will take your suggestions into account when I do post it. But for now I think I’ll try to clarify what I Mean by “behavior” versus “action”. What I Want in the “behavior”" columns are just things we see people do; things that people call “behaviors”; walking, typing. Once you have identified a “behavior” like this then I want you to describe that behavior in terms of the variables involved in control: CV, reference, action, disturbance. “Action” is often a behavior in and of itself but when in this context I it’s the means by which the controlled variable is maintained in its reference state. So if the behavior is “walking” and the controlled variable is “move body forward” then the action that achieves this is “taking a step”. Of course, that action can be considered a behavior itself and it could be listed as another behavior in the behavior column. Then you have to give “taking a step” a CV (say “swinging leg”) and an action that controls that variable (like “apply muscle forces”).

RM: Obviously these are going to be very gross characterizations of the variables involved in any behavior. But hopefully we can refine things as we go. But, again, I do expect behaviors that appear in the “behavior” column to also appear in the “action” column (for a different behavior).

RM: I’ll put you new example into the spreadsheet now. And, again, it would be great to get a lot of these example contributions are welcome. If you are nervous about submitting them publicly feel free to send them directly to me: rsmarken@gamil.com. I think there is much to be learned about the nature of behavior (as control) from this exercise.

Best

Rick

Here's another one.

Behavior

Controlled Variable

Reference State

Action

Disturbances

L

Well, it's clear that the inclusion of Donald Trump on GOP platform

is just a Republican conspiracy to make Jeb Bush seem credible and
electable (anyone would seem credible next to DT!).

Don't let them get away with it. Vote Trump!



Regards,

Rupert


Richard S. Marken

www.mindreadings.com
Author of Doing Research on Purpose.
Now available from Amazon or Barnes & Noble

[From Rick Marken (2015.09.20.1550)]

It has been pointed out to me that it might make it easier to make contributions to the spreadsheet if you name the behavior with a gerund (-ing added to verb). So the behavior would be “walking” instead of “walk”, “driving” instead of “drive”, etc. A verb could then be used as the action, like walk, drive, etc.

Also, there was a typo in my email address. It’s rsmarken@gmail.com.

Best

Rick

···

[From Rick Marken (2015.09.20.1350)]

Rupert Young (2015.09.20 21.30)]

May I suggest some fields for recording additional information:



Date - date of submission

Submitter - person who submitted record

Level - estimate of level in hierarchy

Sub-goal - controlled variable at next level down; I think this is

useful for considering what the output of the control system is, and
also for generating the whole chain of goals in the sub-hierarchy

First though, would you clarify your usage of "behaviour" and

“action”. Are they from the perspective of the observer? Are they
interchangeable, albeit at different scales?

RM: What a coincidence. I was going to post the spreadsheet today but I got diverted (as usual). But I will take your suggestions into account when I do post it. But for now I think I’ll try to clarify what I Mean by “behavior” versus “action”. What I Want in the “behavior”" columns are just things we see people do; things that people call “behaviors”; walking, typing. Once you have identified a “behavior” like this then I want you to describe that behavior in terms of the variables involved in control: CV, reference, action, disturbance. “Action” is often a behavior in and of itself but when in this context I it’s the means by which the controlled variable is maintained in its reference state. So if the behavior is “walking” and the controlled variable is “move body forward” then the action that achieves this is “taking a step”. Of course, that action can be considered a behavior itself and it could be listed as another behavior in the behavior column. Then you have to give “taking a step” a CV (say “swinging leg”) and an action that controls that variable (like “apply muscle forces”).

RM: Obviously these are going to be very gross characterizations of the variables involved in any behavior. But hopefully we can refine things as we go. But, again, I do expect behaviors that appear in the “behavior” column to also appear in the “action” column (for a different behavior).

RM: I’ll put you new example into the spreadsheet now. And, again, it would be great to get a lot of these example contributions are welcome. If you are nervous about submitting them publicly feel free to send them directly to me: rsmarken@gamil.com. I think there is much to be learned about the nature of behavior (as control) from this exercise.

Best

Rick

Here's another one.

Behavior

Controlled Variable

Reference State

Action

Disturbances

L

Well, it's clear that the inclusion of Donald Trump on GOP platform

is just a Republican conspiracy to make Jeb Bush seem credible and
electable (anyone would seem credible next to DT!).

Don't let them get away with it. Vote Trump!



Regards,

Rupert


Richard S. Marken

www.mindreadings.com
Author of Doing Research on Purpose.
Now available from Amazon or Barnes & Noble

Richard S. Marken

www.mindreadings.com
Author of Doing Research on Purpose.
Now available from Amazon or Barnes & Noble

[From Rick Marken (2015.09.23.1215)]

RM: Attached is a list of behaviors that have been submitted so far, described in terms of the variables involved in control. I have edited it somewhat. The main changes I made were to the “Disturbances”. Some of the things called “disturbances” were actually not disturbances; rather, they were performance problems. A disturbance is an independent event that determines what a skilled controller has to do control a variable. So same thing like “an Incorrectly filled out form” is not really a disturbance; it’s a result of lack of skill; the inability of the controller to do what is needed to bring the controlled variable to the reference state. Skill problems, like disturbances, work against a controller’s ability to maintain control. But the role of skill problems in the control process is quite different than that of disturbances. So for now I would like to continue this exercise, adding new behaviors, under the assumption that these behaviors can be carried out skillfully, and part of that skillfulness is, of course, the ability to act so as to protect the controlled variable from disturbance.Â

RM: I have, per Rupert’s suggestion, added columns to the spreadsheet that allow the identification (by initials) of the contributor of the behavior, the date the contribution was made and, more interestingly, a description of the “type” of the controlled variable. The “Action” column is also identified as being the equivalent to the reference for the lower level perception (for example, to take a sip of tea you have to set a reference for perceiving the cup moved to your lips). I had added a column called “Level” but I thought better of it since part of the idea for developing this spreadsheet sheet is to see if we can develop a method for determining the relative level of controlled variables, possibly through pair comparison ratings of the relative level of the controlled variables in the list.Â

RM: I would like to hear your comments on this current version of the spreadsheet. and it would be nice to keep adding behaviors. I think this could become a useful research tool as well as a source of ideas for further research on PCT.Â

Best

Rick

ControlBehavior09.23.xlsx (14.4 KB)

···

On Thu, Sep 17, 2015 at 7:08 PM, Richard Marken rsmarken@gmail.com wrote:

[From Rick Marken (2015.09.17.1445)]

RM:Gold stars for Rupert, Barb and Fred for handing in their examples of everyday control These are all excellent (yours look great Barb). It makes my heart soar like a hawk (remember the movie  “Little Big Man”?) to see such excellent work and clear understanding of the basic phenomenon that is explained by PCT – CONTROL. I am going to take Rupert’s excellent advice and put all of these (and any more that come in – I still have plenty of gold stars left and you can win more than one;-) into a spreadsheet. Once I get that done I’ll post it and comment on what we might be able to learn from it.Â

Best regards

Rick


Richard S. MarkenÂ

www.mindreadings.com
Author of  Doing Research on Purpose
Now available from Amazon or Barnes & Noble

On Thu, Sep 17, 2015 at 1:06 PM, Fred Nickols fred@nickols.us wrote:

[From Fred Nickols (2015.09.17.1603)]

Â

Here is my submission. It reflects a “live� case.

Â

Controlled Variable

Reference Value

Perceived Value

Behavior(s)

Disturbance(s)

Employment Status

Employed as certified health aide

Unemployed

Seek Employment

Not Certified

Certification Status

Certified

Not Certified

Register for, Take & Pass Certification Test

Not Registered for Test
Test not Taken

Test not Passed

Registration Status

Registered for Test

Not Registered

Fill Out & Submit Registration Form

Incorrectly filled out

Incompletely filled out

Submitted after deadline

Test Taken Status

Test Taken

Not Taken

Show up and take test

Failure to show up

Test Passed Status

Passing Score

Confidence level of test taker

Score determined and reported by testing company

Study

Lack of knowledge being tested

Â

One of the things it illustrates, which Bill commended me for, is the notion of a “chain� or series of CVs leading from proximate to ultimate, in this case, from getting registered through taking and passing the test, getting certified and then getting employed.

Â

Fred Nickols

Â

From: bara0361@gmail.com [mailto:bara0361@gmail.com]
Sent: Thursday, September 17, 2015 3:08 PM
To: csgnet@lists.illinois.edu
Subject: Re: Examples of everyday control (was Re: Somebody should take this on)

Â

Barb P:Â Would these be correct, and if not, how would you correct them?

Â

Â

Behavior              controlled variable     reference state              action                           disturbances

Â

exercise                   personal health             well being                      running                            weather, fatigue

Â

eating                      hunger                           satiated                         make sandwich              No peanut butter

Â

writing                     produce a novel           to be published             typing                              writer’s block

Â

Â

Â

Â

On Thu, Sep 17, 2015 at 12:34 PM, Rupert Young rupert@perceptualrobots.com wrote:

[From Rupert Young (2015.09.17 20.30)]

(Rick Marken (2015.09.15.1800)]

Â


RM: Maybe I should start the ball rolling so here are some examples off the top of my head:Â

Â

Behavior       Controlled Variable      Reference State     Action          Disturbances     Â

============================================================================

RM: OK, Â now you can all take it from there. Let’s get empirical!

Â

HB : Well master Rick told the theoretical backgroung and others should perform it in practice. You are really joking aren’t you ?

Â

RM: I have no idea what you are talking about. But I think it would be a great exercise for people to try to extend this table to other behaviors. So I’m posting this again (under a more appropriate subject head) to see if anyone is willing to give it a try. I think its a nice opportunity to learn to look at behavior through control theory glasses. Â

Â

Great idea! I’ve thought for a long time it would be useful to have an online repository of the perceptions that we control, which we could view and add to when we think of them. We could build up an extensive library of variables for all levels. It would be useful for our own reference but also for those unfamiliar with PCT. If there is interest I may look at setting one up.

I can think of loads but here’s just a few to get started. I can add more when I have more time. The second one was as reported by chinese artist Ai Wei Wei yesterday about when he was detained by the authorities in China.    Â
           Â

Behavior

Controlled Variable

Reference State

Action

Disturbances

Nose scratching

itchy feeling

No itch

Press nail up and down nose

Cold, flies

Nose scratching

itchy feeling

No itch

Ask permission from
prison guard

Mood of guard

Shower control

Water temperature

Comfortable

Turn mixer tap

Air temperature,
heater strength

Moving computer cursor

Cursor position

Somewhere

Move mouse

Fluff, edge of screen

TV volume control

Loudness

Audible

Press remote button

Ambient noise, age

Care of environment

Quality of environment

Better than when born

Recycle, buy solar panels

Local amenities, funds

Sunbathing

Colour of skin,
feeling of warmth

brown, hot

Lie in sun

Clouds, temperature

Regards,
Rupert

Great work!

[From Rupert Young (2015.09.25 20.00)]

(Rick Marken (2015.09.23.1215)]

RM: The "Action" column is also identified as being the equivalent to the reference for the lower level perception (for example, to take a sip of tea you have to set a reference for perceiving the cup moved to your lips).

How about "Sub-goal" instead of "Action", as a reference is a goal rather than an action? If we are talking about the reference at the next level down, this could enable us to think about the all the controlled variables going down the hierarchy.

Regards,
Rupert

Makes good sense!

···

On 25 Sep 2015, at 19:07, Rupert Young <rupert@perceptualrobots.com> wrote:

[From Rupert Young (2015.09.25 20.00)]

(Rick Marken (2015.09.23.1215)]

RM: The "Action" column is also identified as being the equivalent to the reference for the lower level perception (for example, to take a sip of tea you have to set a reference for perceiving the cup moved to your lips).

How about "Sub-goal" instead of "Action", as a reference is a goal rather than an action? If we are talking about the reference at the next level down, this could enable us to think about the all the controlled variables going down the hierarchy.

Regards,
Rupert

[From Rick Marken (2015.09.27.1250)

ControlBehavior09.27.xlsx (14.4 KB)

···

Rupert Young (2015.09.25 20.00)–

(Rick Marken (2015.09.23.1215)]

RM: The “Action” column is also identified as being the equivalent to the reference for the lower level perception (for example, to take a sip of tea you have to set a reference for perceiving the cup moved to your lips).

How about “Sub-goal” instead of “Action”, as a reference is a goal rather than an action? If we are talking about the reference at the next level down, this could enable us to think about the all the controlled variables going down the hierarchy.

RM: Sure. I’ve added it and attached the slightly revised spreadsheet. But I’ve keep “Action” too because the references set by higher level systems for lower level systems are the actions taken by the former to achieve their perceptual goals. In PCT, “action” at all levels (except for the lowest – intensity – level) are specifications for input, not commands for output.

RM: So how about adding some more examples of behavior (or, if you must, behaviour) to the spreadsheet!

Best

Rick

Regards,

Rupert

Richard S. Marken

www.mindreadings.com
Author of Doing Research on Purpose.
Now available from Amazon or Barnes & Noble

[From Rick Marken (2015.10.23.1550)]

···

Rupert Young (2015.10.22 21.00)

RY: May I make a few other structural suggestions [re: the Behavior as Control spreadsheet--RM], before I start adding

records? “Sub-goal” and “Action” seem different, so maybe both would
be appropriate, in different columns.

RM: I’m using Table 1 p. 172 of LCS I as the model for this exercise. Bill used the term “Means” to describe what is called “Action” and “Sub-goal” in the spreadsheet. I think I will return to his terminology, which is more inclusive and non-theoretical.

RY: With the "Behavior" column being at the beginning (left) it seems

that behavior is given prominence whereas perhaps prominence should
be given to the controlled variable.

RM: I want the “Behavior” column to have precedence because this exercise is all about doing what Bill was doing in Table 1, which was showing that what psychologists (and lay people) call “behavior” is actually a process of control. By the way, in order to get a clearer idea of what I’m trying to do (which is what Bill was trying to do with his Table 1, p. 172) I suggest that everyone read the section of LCS I in which Table 1 appears. It’s the section titled “The Phenomenon of Control” and it runs from p. 171-176.

RY: I can see that the spreadsheet could get quite unwieldy as it grows

and see a use for a grouping column in addition to “Type” and
“Behavior”, to help users find if their suggestion already exists
and to see the different goals/behaviours involved in a higher goal.

RM: I think we can use the sorting and filtering capabilities of Excel to do all this once we have a lot of entries. I would just like people to think of all kinds of behaviors and put in their ideas about what variable(s) are controlled, their reference state, how they are controlled (the Means), and what disturbances make these Means necessary. In other words, I want to get people involved in thinking about behavior as control.

RY: A particular behaviour is likely to involve controlled variables at

a number of different levels and this would useful for grouping
different entries together. E.g. driving involves Opening a car
door, Fastening seat belt, Depressing clutch etc. So an additional
column with an entry of “Driving” might be useful for this. It could
be called something like “Group” or “Domain” or “Purpose”.

RM: Again, I think all of this kind of thing can be done using the capabilities of Excel once we get a lot of behaviors into the spreadsheet. And, again, I think anyone who is willing to do this exercise should read pp.171-176 of LCS I to see what it is about. It is about showing that what we see (and name) as behavior – “opening a door”, “typing an email”, “giving a speech”,“kibbitzing”, “going to college”, “loitering”, “running for president”,“running a scam”, etc.; anything that is something a person (or other living organism) does – is control, in fact, not in theory.

RM: That['s why I want to avoid theoretical language. I think the first step for anyone who wants to understand PCT is to understand what it explains. It explains the phenomenon of control. In living systems control is seen as purposeful behavior. PCT explains how control (purposeful behavior) works.But right now I’m just interested in convincing people – psychologists in particular – that behavior IS control. I believe that psychologists of all stripes have not seen the significance of PCT because PCT explains a phenomenon that psychologists don’t even know exists. Psychologists look at behavior as though it is the output of a causal process – a show put on for the benefit of the observer (as Bill once put it). So they see PCT as as just another explanation of this “show” when, in fact, PCT is based on understanding that the behavioral “show” is actually a process of control; and that’s the “show” that PCT explains.

RY: Have been compiling some which I was going to send with this, but

they are taking some time so will send later when done.

RM: Great. Try to enter it in terms of the categories that currently exist in the spreadsheet. Read L:CS I pp 171-176 if you are having a hard time. And just do the best you can; I would like to discuss all the entries in the spreadsheet in this forum once we get a good collection together.

Best

Rick

Rupert


Richard S. Marken

www.mindreadings.com
Author of Doing Research on Purpose.
Now available from Amazon or Barnes & Noble

          RM: So how about adding some more examples of behavior

(or, if you must, behaviour) to the spreadsheet!

Rick you will never learn. I think that you can’t be helped. You are psychologist in your soul and you’ll always be. So I doubt that you will ever understand PCT. But you will drag it to selfrgulation form. Whatever you are saying bellow you can meet in Carvers’ text. There is no difference between you and other So what you can explain to them that they already don’t know.

Whatever you done to spreadshit it is your interpretation and of course it reflectes your psychological view upon PCT.

Bill P :

Instead of automatically assuming that mental and physical phenomena have nothing to do with each other, we can assume that there is no contraditction and try to find out how this result is brought about – how the phenomenom of inner purpose or intention works….All we have to do is to find an organization that can do what we observe being done.

HB : So the problem stays even after so many years. The »whole picture« of PCT on 191, B:CP, 2005 internal organization of organisms is not done yet. It’s ambigous and you are just misleading all the forum in wrong way to prove your psychological stand point. If you’ll read also text from p.176-181. And then you will see that thew conclusion is the same as in all other Bill’s books.

Bill P :

The organism acts to bring under control, in relation to some reference state, the sensed perceptions.

HB : Although you took 36 year old text, it’s obviously that whatever you read from Bill you can always come to the same conclusion. It is not behavior that it is controlled, but perception. Read carefully what you read so you will have no problems with reading what you want tor read and not what it is.

Even Bruce Nevin is clear about it

BN : The key insight is that we do not control our behavior. Rather, behavior is variable in just the manner and extent necessary to make our experience be the way we want it to be. The title of the locus classicus of this science of psychology is Behavior: The control of perception, published in 1973 by William T. Powers.

HB :

If you want to prove that »behavior is control! Make your own theory RCT and write and prove as you want. But atop selling self-regulation theory under PCT cover.

Best,

Boris

···

Show me in the whole text from pages 171-181 (LCS I) where Bill mentioned that »behavior is control« or something near to this. Maybe you could first explain what did he wrote on this pages. I think that the main purpose of what is written on this pages is :

From: Richard Marken [mailto:rsmarken@gmail.com]
Sent: Saturday, October 24, 2015 12:51 AM
To: csgnet@lists.illinois.edu
Subject: Re: Examples of everyday control (was Re: Somebody should take this on)

[From Rick Marken (2015.10.23.1550)]

Rupert Young (2015.10.22 21.00)

RY: May I make a few other structural suggestions [re: the Behavior as Control spreadsheet–RM], before I start adding records? “Sub-goal” and “Action” seem different, so maybe both would be appropriate, in different columns.

RM: I’m using Table 1 p. 172 of LCS I as the model for this exercise. Bill used the term “Means” to describe what is called “Action” and “Sub-goal” in the spreadsheet. I think I will return to his terminology, which is more inclusive and non-theoretical.

RY: With the “Behavior” column being at the beginning (left) it seems that behavior is given prominence whereas perhaps prominence should be given to the controlled variable.

RM: I want the “Behavior” column to have precedence because this exercise is all about doing what Bill was doing in Table 1, which was showing that what psychologists (and lay people) call “behavior” is actually a process of control. By the way, in order to get a clearer idea of what I’m trying to do (which is what Bill was trying to do with his Table 1, p. 172) I suggest that everyone read the section of LCS I in which Table 1 appears. It’s the section titled “The Phenomenon of Control” and it runs from p. 171-176.

RY: I can see that the spreadsheet could get quite unwieldy as it grows and see a use for a grouping column in addition to “Type” and “Behavior”, to help users find if their suggestion already exists and to see the different goals/behaviours involved in a higher goal.

RM: I think we can use the sorting and filtering capabilities of Excel to do all this once we have a lot of entries. I would just like people to think of all kinds of behaviors and put in their ideas about what variable(s) are controlled, their reference state, how they are controlled (the Means), and what disturbances make these Means necessary. In other words, I want to get people involved in thinking about behavior as control.

RY: A particular behaviour is likely to involve controlled variables at a number of different levels and this would useful for grouping different entries together. E.g. driving involves Opening a car door, Fastening seat belt, Depressing clutch etc. So an additional column with an entry of “Driving” might be useful for this. It could be called something like “Group” or “Domain” or “Purpose”.

RM: Again, I think all of this kind of thing can be done using the capabilities of Excel once we get a lot of behaviors into the spreadsheet. And, again, I think anyone who is willing to do this exercise should read pp.171-176 of LCS I to see what it is about. It is about showing that what we see (and name) as behavior – “opening a door”, “typing an email”, “giving a speech”,“kibbitzing”, “going to college”, “loitering”, “running for president”,“running a scam”, etc.; anything that is something a person (or other living organism) does – is control, in fact, not in theory.

HBÂ : Hiow many times I had to tell you that BEHAVIOR IS NOT CONTROL. Do you want to tell people that whatever you are descibing you are doing with controlling your limbs.

RM: That['s why I want to avoid theoretical language. I think the first step for anyone who wants to understand PCT is to understand what it explains. It explains the phenomenon of control. In living systems control is seen as purposeful behavior. PCT explains how control (purposeful behavior) works.But right now I’m just interested in convincing people – psychologists in particular – that behavior IS control. I believe that psychologists of all stripes have not seen the significance of PCT because PCT explains a phenomenon that psychologists don’t even know exists. Psychologists look at behavior as though it is the output of a causal process – a show put on for the benefit of the observer (as Bill once put it). So they see PCT as as just another explanation of this “show” when, in fact, PCT is based on understanding that the behavioral “show” is actually a process of control; and that’s the “show” that PCT explains.

RM: So how about adding some more examples of behavior (or, if you must, behaviour) to the spreadsheet!

RY: Have been compiling some which I was going to send with this, but they are taking some time so will send later when done.

RM: Great. Try to enter it in terms of the categories that currently exist in the spreadsheet. Read L:CS I pp 171-176 if you are having a hard time. And just do the best you can; I would like to discuss all the entries in the spreadsheet in this forum once we get a good collection together.

Best

Rick

Rupert

Richard S. Marken

www.mindreadings.com
Author of Doing Research on Purpose.

Now available from Amazon or Barnes & Noble

Suggest making this a Google spreadsheet.
If you want to continue to control input to it, then post the URL, and those with the URL can view but not edit.

If you want a list of people to be able to edit it, you can use the ‘Share’ function.

···

On Sun, Sep 27, 2015 at 3:49 PM, Richard Marken rsmarken@gmail.com wrote:

[From Rick Marken (2015.09.27.1250)

(Rick Marken (2015.09.23.1215)]

RM: The “Action” column is also identified as being the equivalent to the reference for the lower level perception (for example, to take a sip of tea you have to set a reference for perceiving the cup moved to your lips).
Rupert Young (2015.09.25 20.00)–

How about “Sub-goal” instead of “Action”, as a reference is a goal rather than an action? If we are talking about the reference at the next level down, this could enable us to think about the all the controlled variables going down the hierarchy.

RM: Sure. I’ve added it and attached the slightly revised spreadsheet. But I’ve keep “Action” too because the references set by higher level systems for lower level systems are the actions taken by the former to achieve their perceptual goals. In PCT, “action” at all levels (except for the lowest – intensity – level) are specifications for input, not commands for output.

RM: So how about adding some more examples of behavior (or, if you must, behaviour) to the spreadsheet!

Best

Rick

Regards,

Rupert


Richard S. Marken

www.mindreadings.com
Author of Doing Research on Purpose.
Now available from Amazon or Barnes & Noble

[From Rick Marken (2015.10.04.1005)]

···

On Sat, Oct 3, 2015 at 12:38 PM, Bruce Nevin bnhpct@gmail.com wrote:

BN: Suggest making this a Google spreadsheet.

RM: Good idea. I’ll try to have it on line by the end of the day and see what happens.

Best

Rick

If you want to continue to control input to it, then post the URL, and those with the URL can view but not edit.

If you want a list of people to be able to edit it, you can use the ‘Share’ function.

/B

On Sun, Sep 27, 2015 at 3:49 PM, Richard Marken rsmarken@gmail.com wrote:

[From Rick Marken (2015.09.27.1250)

(Rick Marken (2015.09.23.1215)]

RM: The “Action” column is also identified as being the equivalent to the reference for the lower level perception (for example, to take a sip of tea you have to set a reference for perceiving the cup moved to your lips).
Rupert Young (2015.09.25 20.00)–

How about “Sub-goal” instead of “Action”, as a reference is a goal rather than an action? If we are talking about the reference at the next level down, this could enable us to think about the all the controlled variables going down the hierarchy.

RM: Sure. I’ve added it and attached the slightly revised spreadsheet. But I’ve keep “Action” too because the references set by higher level systems for lower level systems are the actions taken by the former to achieve their perceptual goals. In PCT, “action” at all levels (except for the lowest – intensity – level) are specifications for input, not commands for output.

RM: So how about adding some more examples of behavior (or, if you must, behaviour) to the spreadsheet!

Best

Rick

Regards,

Rupert


Richard S. Marken

www.mindreadings.com
Author of Doing Research on Purpose.
Now available from Amazon or Barnes & Noble

Richard S. Marken

www.mindreadings.com
Author of Doing Research on Purpose.
Now available from Amazon or Barnes & Noble