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Related Experiment Videos

Feedback: beyond behaviorism.

W T Powers

    Science (New York, N.Y.)
    |January 26, 1973
    PubMed
    Summary
    This summary is machine-generated.

    Behavioral acts are controlled by internal systems, not external cues. This control-system model explains purpose and suggests human behavior is self-determined, challenging operant conditioning.

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    Area of Science:

    • Behavioral science
    • Neuroscience
    • Systems theory

    Background:

    • Traditional explanations of behavior rely on external "cues," which are insufficient for novel situations.
    • The paradox of consistent behavior arising from variable acts requires a new explanatory framework.

    Purpose of the Study:

    • To propose a control-system model of behavior that explains purpose and variability.
    • To demonstrate that behavior is the control of input, not output.

    Main Methods:

    • Conceptualizing behavior through a control-system framework.
    • Investigating the hierarchical structure of controlled quantities within organisms.
    • Analyzing the role of reference levels in higher-order control systems.

    Main Results:

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    • A control-system model provides a physical basis for goals and purpose in behavior.
    • Behavioral variability diminishes significantly when controlled quantities are identified.
    • The model reveals a hierarchical organization of control systems, with inherited reference levels driving reorganization.

    Conclusions:

    • Behavior is fundamentally self-determined through internal control systems.
    • The control-system model offers a more robust explanation for behavioral consistency and purpose than cue-based theories.
    • The findings question the long-term efficacy of operant conditioning for human behavior modification.