Perceptual Control
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What is “Perceptual Control”?
“The behavior of an organism is the output of control systems, and is performed with the purpose of controlling perceptions at desired reference values. Behavior is the control of perception.” — William T. Powers, control systems theorist and author of Making Sense of Behavior: The Meaning of Control
Key Points:
- Perceptual Control means that once a certain action brings the perception under control, the system stops acting until a set point is violated again.
- We act in ways to keep our perception of the world within acceptable boundaries. We wear a coat not because of the weather, but because we feel cold and don’t want to feel cold.
- The Environment dictates which actions are possible to bring the perception under control. Control is not about planning, it’s about adjusting to environmental changes as they happen.
- By understanding that people act to control their perceptions, you’ll be better equipped to influence them.
Questions for Consideration:
- Are you treating people as control systems, or stimulus-response machines?
- How can you discover what people are controlling for, then help them get it?
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