The dancer and the dance: Methods in the study of living control systems

Journal/Book: Psychol Methods. 1997; 2: 750 First St NE, Washington, DC 20002-4242. Amer Psychological Assoc. 436-446.

Abstract: This article describes methods for studying behavior when organisms are viewed as living control systems. These methods are: aimed at determining the variables that organisms control when they are engaged in various observable behaviors. Controlled variables are perceptual representations of the environment that are protected from the effects of disturbance by the responses of the organism, It is possible to detect controlled variables by applying disturbances to aspects of the environment that might be under control and looking for lack of an effect of these disturbances. This Test for Controlled Variables makes it possible to see the ''dance'' of behavior from the perspective of the behaving organism (the ''dancer'') rather than from that of the observer, who sees only the dance.

Note: Article Marken RS, Life Learning Associates, 10459 Holman Ave, Los Angeles,CA 90024 USA

Keyword(s): BEHAVIOR; CATCH

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