# Excerpt from: Towards a Sociological Theory of Perceptual Control

**URL:** <http://discourse.iapct.org/t/excerpt-from-towards-a-sociological-theory-of-perceptual-control/4094>\
**Category:** CSG2000\
**Created:** [February 23, 2000, 4:11pm UTC](http://discourse.iapct.org/t/excerpt-from-towards-a-sociological-theory-of-perceptual-control/4094 "2000-02-23T16:11:28Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 2\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Paul\_A\_Stokes1](http://discourse.iapct.org/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/p/5e9695/32.png) [@Paul\_A\_Stokes1](http://discourse.iapct.org/u/Paul_A_Stokes1)\
**Post date:** [February 23, 2000, 4:11pm UTC](http://discourse.iapct.org/t/excerpt-from-towards-a-sociological-theory-of-perceptual-control/4094/1 "2000-02-23T16:11:28Z")

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[From Paul Stokes (2000.02.23.1609 GMT)]

I am enclosing with this message a short extract from a paper I am currently  
writing called "Towards a Sociological Theory of Perceptual Control". It  
sounds as though this might be heavily reliant on PCT and you would be right  
to think so. I have for some time now been convinced of the essential  
correctness of PCT as a theory of behaviour and also of its potential  
utility to sociology for precisely the same reason. However, the radical  
individualism of PCT has always posed a severe obstacle to my taking the  
matter further. I have found the work of existing PCT sociologists  
unsatisfactory for this reason. This year, however, and for the first time,  
I have had the opportunity to teach the fundamentals of PCT to my 3rd year  
sociological theory class (approximately 100 students). I based the classes  
around the video demonstrations of PCT that I bought from Dag in Durango a  
couple of years back. I think it went quite well (apart from one student who  
said that PCT was a 'nothing theory' or words to that effect!) although I  
think the students struggled a bit with the counterintuitive conceptual  
gymnastics involved. The specific context in which I presented the ideas  
(Norbert Elias's theory of the civilising process), however, necessitated  
that I finally address the problem of the radical individualism at the heart  
of PCT. The enclosed file is a short except from a longer paper that I am  
working on and addresses specifically the conceptual extensions that are  
necessary in order to make PCT suitable for mainstream sociological usage.  
Knowing the kind of exchanges that are common to this list, you will very  
likely hate what I have to say, call me a variety of unedifying names and  
generally scorn my work. However, someone has to bring PCT, screaming and  
dragging its heels as may be, into mainstream social scientific thought and  
I am determined to have my go.  
What is written below is hardly the last word. It is rather compact and  
condensed so if people need me to unpack anything in further detail or  
clarification please say so.  
I thought I'd give you guys first crack o' the whip. I intend to submit the  
full and final paper to a mainstream sociology journal in a few months time.  
The file is in MS Word'97 format.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Paul A. STOKES  
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Department of Sociology  
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;University College Dublin

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> &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Tel: +353-1-7068233  
> &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Fax: +353-1-7061125
> 
> Attachment converted: Betelgeuse:Sociological extensions to PCT. (WDBN/MSWD) (0000D15E)

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**Author:** ![R\_Marken](http://discourse.iapct.org/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/r/8797f3/32.png) [@R\_Marken](http://discourse.iapct.org/u/R_Marken)\
**Post date:** [February 25, 2000, 4:25pm UTC](http://discourse.iapct.org/t/excerpt-from-towards-a-sociological-theory-of-perceptual-control/4094/2 "2000-02-25T16:25:27Z")

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[From Rick Marken (2000.02.0830)]

Paul Stokes (2000.02.23.1609 GMT)--

> I thought I'd give you guys first crack o' the whip. I intend  
> to submit the full and final paper to a mainstream sociology  
> journal in a few months time.

Thanks for the excerpt and for giving us "first crack o' the whip"  
But I think I've finally learned my lesson about giving solicited  
criticism of PCT-based ideas: don't do it.

Best

Rick

> **···**
>
> --  
> Richard S. Marken Phone or Fax: 310 474-0313  
> Life Learning Associates mailto: rmarken@earthlink.net  
> [http://home.earthlink.net/~rmarken](http://home.earthlink.net/~rmarken)