[From Fred Nickols (2006.11.11.1343 EST)] --
Everybody can kindly ignored my earlier dumb question. It just dawned on me that even if I set goals (reference conditions) in relation to some internal state I still have to rely on a perception of it to tell if I've achieved it. A lower cholesterol level or lower blood pressure, for example, are assessed via external means. Even if I take my own pulse, I am feeling my own pulse (i.e., obtaining sensory input).
So please ignore the question - unless it wasn't as dumb as I now think it is.
ยทยทยท
--
Regards,
Fred Nickols
Senior Consultant
Distance Consulting
nickols@att.net
www.nickols.us
"Assistance at A Distance"
[From Fred Nickols (2006.11.11.1213 EST)] --
As I reviewed some of the material I've been writing about the GAP-ACT
model, I posed myself a question I can't answer. So, I'll try to restate it
in PCT terms.What I'm calling a goal (G) refers to what is called the "reference
condition" in PCT. In either case, they serve to specify some desired or
required state for what I call the "target variable" (T) and which is known
in PCT as the "controlled quantity" or "controlled variable."In my GAP-ACT model, T is "out there" or part of the environment. Ditto for
the controlled quantity in PCT. PCT, of course, identifies those controlled
quantities as "remote physical phenomena" (see p. 61).What if the controlled quantity or targeted variable isn't some "remote
physical phenomena" but instead refers to some aspect of me? What if the
controlled quantity isn't "out there" but is instead "in here." If I set a
goal of "being a better person" I obviously need to sharpen that goal or I
won't have a snowball's chance of achieving it. So perhaps I express it in
terms of my own, overt, observable behaviors (something like "snap at people
less often" or "make fewer snide comments" or "listen instead of criticize"
and so on). My overt behaviors are as "out there" as anything else.In any case, if someone says, "Fred, your GAP-ACT (and that PCT stuff) is
all well and good but I hope you've noticed that it's focused on 'out there'
and doesn't deal with what goes on 'in here'," then I'm struggling with what
to say. I know PCT deals with internal systems, especially at the lower
levels so "remote physical phenomena" obviously doesn't apply to everything
- or does it.I'm looking for help again - as usual ...
Regards,
Fred Nickols
"Assistance at a Distance"
nickols@att.net
www.nickols.us