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Quick guide to PCT

Perceptual Control Theory (PCT) has been around for over 50 years, leaving a trail of papers, books, websites, posts, conversations, videos all over the web. This is a quick guide to get started with the most basic materials: introductory texts, books, demonstrations, papers, websites and finding others interested in PCT. Welcome! [...]
PCT in 11 steps - introduction by Bill Powers

Control is a process of acting on the world we perceive to make it the way we want it to be, and to keep it that way. Examples of control: standing upright; walking; steering a car; scrambling eggs; scratching an itch; knitting socks; singing a tune. Extruding a pseudopod to absorb a nanospeck of food (all organisms control, not only human beings). The smallest organisms control by biochemical means, bigger ones by means of a nervous system. [...]
A simple introduction to PCT

A simple start… PCT stands for Perceptual Control Theory. Big words, eh? The ‘big idea’ behind PCT is simple but don’t be surprised if it takes a while to get your head around. This is it…. ‘Behaviour is the control of perception’ That’s it. Or more simply, we do things to get what we want – now that sounds too simple! Let’s take it a step at a time… [...]
Once around the loop

Elements of the control loop have been labeled slightly different by different people at different times and for different purposes, whether for a very plain explanation or for more mathematical treatment of the physical functions. Dag Forssell describes the elements of the control loop step by step, as an introduction to the basics of PCT. [...]

31 Mar

Excited to see the cover of our book that's due for publication later this year. Written by experts by experience and clinical-academics, it considers how we can make MH services more effective and humane using Perceptual Control Theory principles. @VyvHuddy @warrenmansell

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Joh_Orengo @johorengo ·

30 Mar

This is very sad to hear.

Martin is easily one of the smartest people I've ever met, and generous to boot.

He'll be missed. https://twitter.com/iapct/status/1641248116858032128

@IAPCT @iapct

In memoriam: Martin Taylor - IAPCT / In Memoriam - IAPCT

A personal account that recognises Martin’s past, and future, achievements in the expansive, integrative and transformative application of PCT to the self & society. http://discourse.iapct.org/t/in-memoriam-martin-taylor/16040

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Spatial8 @spatial_8 ·

30 Mar

Very sad news...

@JohOrengo fondly mentioned Martin Taylor in a past newsletter that introduced PCT to our readership.
https://spatial8.substack.com/p/spatial-news-021

May his insights continue to live on. https://twitter.com/iapct/status/1641248116858032128

@IAPCT @iapct

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Ethan Ashkie @deevbrain ·

29 Mar

truly random thought: any chance that QRI’s symmetry theory of qualia provides a satisfying synthesis / unification of Perceptual Control Theory and Interaction Ritual Chains?

cc @RomeoStevens76

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@IAPCT @iapct ·

30 Mar

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Joanne Forsyth @joanne2forsyth ·

27 Mar

Such a lovely start to the week drinking coffee in the sunshine while reading the new #pct interdisciplinary handbook 👌🏼
#livingintheloop
@warrenmansell
@EvadeHullu
@VyvHuddy
Tom Scholte