[Martin Taylor 2011.06.05.11.28]
[From Bill Powers (2011.06.06.0750 MDT)]
Oliver Schauman 04.06.2011 --
OS: Dear all,
One of my main areas of interests is the question: �When is help perceived as helpful�. The question is very complex and I don�t think I have an answer but my best bet would be that it has to do with gaining or losing control over a controlled variable.
BP:I think it's generally the most helpful when it's requested. Offers of help will often be rejected when the helpee is trying to master the ability to carry out control alone. And the helper seldom knows enough to help without causing errors in some other control process.
I agree with Bill, and with his further comment that I have not quoted. Here I just want to mention that I have an analysis of different modes of helping at <http://www.mmtaylor.net/PCT/Helping/helping.html>\. The analysis suggests an outline of conditions in which helping is and is not likely to be truly helpful.
Martin
[Oliver Schauman 2011.06.06]
[Martin Taylor 2011.06.05.11.28]
[From Bill Powers (2011.06.06.0750 MDT)]
Oliver Schauman 04.06.2011 --
OS: Dear all,
One of my main areas of interests is the question: "When is help
perceived as helpful". The question is very complex and I don't think
I have an answer but my best bet would be that it has to do with
gaining or losing control over a controlled variable.
BP:I think it's generally the most helpful when it's requested. Offers
of help will often be rejected when the helpee is trying to master the
ability to carry out control alone. And the helper seldom knows enough
to help without causing errors in some other control process.
MT:I agree with Bill, and with his further comment that I have not quoted.
Here I just want to mention that I have an analysis of different modes
of helping at <http://www.mmtaylor.net/PCT/Helping/helping.html>\. The
analysis suggests an outline of conditions in which helping is and is
not likely to be truly helpful.
Very helpful feedback from everyone!
My long-term ambition is to model help-seeking and in particular what the
help-seeking process might look like for a person who is experiencing
psychological distress (goal conflict). My guess is that trying to help
someone to control a variable that he/she is in conflict over is extremely
difficult as any interference with the controlled perception would be likely
to cause error in one or both systems. The million dollar question is
therefore: how do people who experience goal conflict ever anticipate any
help to be "helpful" and thus end up seeking help.
Martin-I've been eyeing that site for quite a while. I find the diagrams a
bit hard to read so if you have them in bigger format anywhere, it would be
very helpful.
/Oliver
[Martin Taylor 2011.06.06.22.59]
[Oliver Schauman 2011.06.06]
[Martin Taylor 2011.06.05.11.28]
MT:... I have an analysis of different modes
of helping at<http://www.mmtaylor.net/PCT/Helping/helping.html>\.
OS: Martin-I've been eyeing that site for quite a while. I find the diagrams a
bit hard to read so if you have them in bigger format anywhere, it would be
very helpful.
I just looked at the site for the first time in years, and I have to agree with you. I'll fix the diagrams if I can find the original images, or redraw them if I can't.
Martin
[Martin Taylor 2011.06.07.11.44]
[Martin Taylor 2011.06.06.22.59]
[Oliver Schauman 2011.06.06]
[Martin Taylor 2011.06.05.11.28]
MT:... I have an analysis of different modes
of helping at<http://www.mmtaylor.net/PCT/Helping/helping.html>\.
OS: Martin-I've been eyeing that site for quite a while. I find the diagrams a
bit hard to read so if you have them in bigger format anywhere, it would be
very helpful.
I just looked at the site for the first time in years, and I have to agree with you. I'll fix the diagrams if I can find the original images, or redraw them if I can't.
I found the originals, in an antique format, but they were recoverable except for the arrow directions and arrowheads. I think I have fixed the arrows, but there may remain one or two cases where the arrow or the arrowhead points in the wrong direction. I hope that if this is the case, the context will let you know what was intended. Anyway, the figures are now much bigger -- perhaps too big for small screens. If they still show up small when you look at them, refresh your browser.
Martin