[From Chris Cherpas (960223.1327 PT)]
Q: How can references _ever_ match inputs?
Here's why I ask: PCT makes the claim that specific responses
can't possibly be what is learned since you're always in different
orientations/positions when you act, so the same set of muscle
tensions won't work for a changing environment. But what about
the "stimulus" side? Don't we see, hear, feel, etc., everything
from all sorts of orientations, viewpoints, angles, etc.?
Therefore, how can references possibly work under such variable
conditions? How can any inputs match a reference if the world
is so variable?
...Admittedly, a speculative question, since somehow we seem to
do it... But what PCT principle or slogan makes this possible? Or maybe
that's the whole point: since inputs don't match references exactly,
we keep behaving until they do...Still, how can actions
(re)create so precisely whatever it is that will make inputs
match references? I guess you really don't need to recreate
whole situations exactly, since all the references "care about" are
some abstract properties out there; but, why can't we apply
a similar argument to actions (they only need certain properties)?
I'm going around in circles. Can anybody get what I'm asking, and,
if so, help clarify my thinking?
Best regards,
cc