[David Goldstein (2009.06.17.19:45 EDT)]
Psychologists have studied an individual difference variable called “the locus of control”. Some people have a belief that what happens to them is mostly controlled by the actions they take (internal locus of control). Other people believe that external forces or luck mostly determine what happens to them (external locus of control)
Given the PCT equation that the value of the controlled variable = the sum of the feedback effect and the disturbance effect, we see that at all times, both internal and external factors are at play in what we experience. If the disturbance becomes overwhelming, we would expect that the internal locus of control person would continue in the task longer than the external locus of control person, and would experinece larger error signals and more emotional upset because they are not controlling so well. There self-image might suffer a blow.
People who attend AA and NA groups for substance abuse issues, are taught the serenity prayer. They wish to know when something is controllable or not, and wish to accept it when they conclude that it is not controllable. This is what the author of the article was talking about with his mother.
I liked the article and found it touching.
David
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----- Original Message -----
From: David M. Goldstein
To: Control Systems Group Network (CSGnet)
Sent: Wednesday, June 17, 2009 8:09 PM
Subject: Re: Popular concepts of control
----- Original Message -----
From:
Richard Marken
To: CSGNET@LISTSERV.ILLINOIS.EDU
Sent: Wednesday, June 17, 2009 5:07 PM
Subject: Popular concepts of control
[From Rick Marken (2009.06.17.1410)]
Here is a little Opinion piece on Control that I saw in the NY Times.
http://happydays.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/06/15/the-limits-of-control/?emc=eta1
It’s written by a physicist and reflects some nice sentiments about life. But it also seems to reflect a rather deep lack of understanding of what control is and also that control is what people do. I would be interested in hearing what any of you control mavens out there think about it.
Best
Rick
Richard S. Marken PhD
rsmarken@gmail.com