# How Do  You Say ...

**URL:** <http://discourse.iapct.org/t/how-do-you-say/5300>\
**Category:** CSG2000\
**Created:** [June 11, 2000, 5:26pm UTC](http://discourse.iapct.org/t/how-do-you-say/5300 "2000-06-11T17:26:02Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 4\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Bill\_Curry1](http://discourse.iapct.org/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/b/9d8465/32.png) [@Bill\_Curry1](http://discourse.iapct.org/u/Bill_Curry1)\
**Post date:** [June 11, 2000, 5:26pm UTC](http://discourse.iapct.org/t/how-do-you-say/5300/1 "2000-06-11T17:26:02Z")

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[Bill Curry (2000.06.11.1315 EST)]

I would appreciate some help in mapping some common terms to PCTspeak.

1) To Cue or Not to Cue?

Suppose a person is controlling sequence A which occurs repetitively on  
a regularly basis. To help control the sequence, this person uses a  
device that emits a sensible signal at a rate coincident with the  
desired repetition rate of the sequence. On perceiving the signal, the  
subject proceeds to control the individual event steps of sequence A,  
concluding them before the ensuing signal arrives.

It is tempting to consider signal perception as the first controlled  
event of the repeating sequence A, but this initiating event is more  
than a simple event perception of the signaling sensation. Plus, it is  
not part of sequence A, per se. It bears symbolic content, i.e., the  
logic instruction "proceed with the steps of sequence A". Is there a  
commonly understood, distinguishing PCT term for such a  
sequence-initiating environmental variable? I recall reluctance to use  
the words "cue" or "prompt" in the PCT lexicon because of alledged SR  
overtones. Absent SR concerns, "cue" sounds like a concise and  
parsimonious term to me.

2) What is a habit:

(a) a nun's attire, (b) a learned act that is routinely and  
automatically performed, (c) a wocsys (well oiled control system)?

Does the word "habit" exist in PCT or has it been relegated to the trash  
heap? Is there a better term?

Best,

Bill

> **···**
>
> --  
> William J. Curry  
> Capticom, Inc.  
> [capticom@landmarknet.net](mailto:capticom@landmarknet.net)

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**Author:** ![Richard\_Marken2](http://discourse.iapct.org/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/r/edb3f5/32.png) [@Richard\_Marken2](http://discourse.iapct.org/u/Richard_Marken2)\
**Post date:** [June 13, 2000, 8:09pm UTC](http://discourse.iapct.org/t/how-do-you-say/5300/2 "2000-06-13T20:09:14Z")

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[From Rick Marken (2000.06.13.1310)]

Bill Curry (2000.06.11.1315 EST)

> I would appreciate some help in mapping some common terms  
> to PCTspeak.

> Is there a commonly understood, distinguishing PCT term for  
> such a sequence-initiating environmental variable?

Yes. It's called a \_disturbance\_. The signal is an independent  
environmental influence on (disturbance to) the controlled  
sequence perception.

> 2) What is a habit:
> 
> (a) a nun's attire, (b) a learned act that is routinely and  
> automatically performed, (c) a wocsys (well oiled control  
> system)?

None of the above. I think a habit is just a regularly produced  
state of a controlled perception. For example, smoking, biting  
nails, drinking scotch, taking the coast route, eating after  
meals; all these habits are intentionally (and regularly)  
produced results, ie. controlled perceptions. In some cases,  
these controlled perceptions may not actually be controlled  
because there is conflict: you want to smoke and you don't  
want to smoke; you want to bite your nails and you don't  
want to bite your nails, etc. So repetition of the result  
may represent changes in the state of a perceptual variable  
due to conflict.

Best

Rick

> **···**
>
> --  
> Richard S. Marken Phone or Fax: 310 474-0313  
> MindReadings.com mailto: marken@mindreadings.com  
> www.mindreadings.com

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**Author:** ![Ray\_Merry\_Bennett](http://discourse.iapct.org/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/r/73ab20/32.png) [@Ray\_Merry\_Bennett](http://discourse.iapct.org/u/Ray_Merry_Bennett)\
**Post date:** [June 14, 2000, 9:57am UTC](http://discourse.iapct.org/t/how-do-you-say/5300/3 "2000-06-14T09:57:58Z")

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Have I got this right? I smoke(for example) to control my perceptions. I  
don't smoke also to control my perceptions. The conflict between the two  
results in me smoking on and off and is labeled by some as a habit.

"Richard S. Marken" wrote:

> **···**
>
> > [From Rick Marken (2000.06.13.1310)]
> > 
> > Bill Curry (2000.06.11.1315 EST)
> > 
> > \> I would appreciate some help in mapping some common terms  
> > \> to PCTspeak.
> > 
> > \> Is there a commonly understood, distinguishing PCT term for  
> > \> such a sequence-initiating environmental variable?
> > 
> > Yes. It's called a \_disturbance\_. The signal is an independent  
> > environmental influence on (disturbance to) the controlled  
> > sequence perception.
> > 
> > \> 2) What is a habit:  
> > \>  
> > \> (a) a nun's attire, (b) a learned act that is routinely and  
> > \> automatically performed, (c) a wocsys (well oiled control  
> > \> system)?
> > 
> > None of the above. I think a habit is just a regularly produced  
> > state of a controlled perception. For example, smoking, biting  
> > nails, drinking scotch, taking the coast route, eating after  
> > meals; all these habits are intentionally (and regularly)  
> > produced results, ie. controlled perceptions. In some cases,  
> > these controlled perceptions may not actually be controlled  
> > because there is conflict: you want to smoke and you don't  
> > want to smoke; you want to bite your nails and you don't  
> > want to bite your nails, etc. So repetition of the result  
> > may represent changes in the state of a perceptual variable  
> > due to conflict.
> > 
> > Best
> > 
> > Rick  
> > --  
> > Richard S. Marken Phone or Fax: 310 474-0313  
> > MindReadings.com mailto: marken@mindreadings.com  
> > www.mindreadings.com

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Richard\_Marken2](http://discourse.iapct.org/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/r/edb3f5/32.png) [@Richard\_Marken2](http://discourse.iapct.org/u/Richard_Marken2)\
**Post date:** [June 14, 2000, 3:05pm UTC](http://discourse.iapct.org/t/how-do-you-say/5300/4 "2000-06-14T15:05:16Z")

</div>

[From Rick Marken (2000.06.14.0800)]

Sandy wrote:

> Have I got this right? I smoke(for example) to control  
> my perceptions. I don't smoke also to control my perceptions.  
> The conflict between the two results in me smoking on and  
> off and is labeled by some as a habit.

Yes, I think so. The main point is that the term "habit"  
refers to the way an \_observer\_ sees your behavior. If I  
(the observer) see you light up once or twice every day  
I might be inclined to say that you have a "smoking habit".

The word "habit" refers to the fact that you produce the  
behavior (smoking) regularly but it also implies that you  
"can't help it". That last part is true only if you are  
in conflict. In that case, the periods of non-smoking  
represent the times when the "no smoke" system is winning  
the conflict and the periods of smoking represent the  
times when the "smoke" system is winning the conflict.

But PCT shows us that one can't tell just by looking at  
your behavior whether or not your periodic smoking is  
the result of conflict (and is, thus, something you can't  
help doing) or simply something you like to do periodically.  
That is, I can't tell what you are controlling by simply  
looking at your behavior. I have to do The Test for the  
Controlled Variable.

The term "habit" is based on a \_behavioristic\_ approach  
to understanding behavior. The behaviorist concludes that  
you have a "habit" (that you can't help performing the  
behavior) if it is simply observed that the behavior is  
performed regularly. So the behaviorist would say that  
you have a smoking "habit" if he sees you smoke a cigarette  
regularly. The behaviorist can't tell whether you are doing  
this because you are in control of your smoking (you like  
to have a cigarette after each meal, say, but you are fine  
with having something else if cigarettes are not available) or  
because you are in conflict (you want to stop smoking but you  
also want to smoke and the latter side of the conflict tends  
to win after eating).

Summary: Habit is a behavioristic term. It's really irrelevant  
once you know how to look at behavior through PCT glasses.

Best

Rick

> **···**
>
> --  
> Richard S. Marken Phone or Fax: 310 474-0313  
> MindReadings.com mailto: marken@mindreadings.com  
> www.mindreadings.com