Research and Dissemination Research and Dissemination of Perceptual Control Theory:of Perceptual Control Theory:

Methods, Results and Methods, Results and ConflictsConflicts

CSG Manchester 2007CSG Manchester 2007

Dr Warren MansellDr Warren Mansell

University of ManchesterUniversity of Manchester

PCT

Research

Theoretical Applications

Dissemination

Intervention

Control Paradigms Phenomenology Hybrid Designs

Bipolar Disorder‘Transdiagnostic’

approaches

Core UG Syllabus Specialist UG & PG Modules

Method of LevelsTreatment & Evaluation

Self HelpApproaches

Control ParadigmControl Paradigm

e.g. Tracker task (Bourbon; Powers)e.g. Tracker task (Bourbon; Powers) Image Control TaskImage Control Task 31 images graded on one dimension (1 31 images graded on one dimension (1

to 31) or two dimensions (1-15; 16; 17-to 31) or two dimensions (1-15; 16; 17-31)31)

E.g. face valence – angry to happyE.g. face valence – angry to happy Participants is asked to control the Participants is asked to control the

image on the screen ‘as they wish’; (Q: image on the screen ‘as they wish’; (Q: What instructions are appropriate?)What instructions are appropriate?)

Control Paradigm (cont.)Control Paradigm (cont.)

Several versionsSeveral versions No disturbanceNo disturbance Random disturbance (variable)Random disturbance (variable) Computer controlled; e.g. computer’s Computer controlled; e.g. computer’s

reference value is ‘extreme anger’reference value is ‘extreme anger’ Frame length variableFrame length variable Record all data frame by frameRecord all data frame by frame Measure perceived control and self-reportsMeasure perceived control and self-reports

Research QuestionsResearch Questions

Do Ps behave as though they are Do Ps behave as though they are controlling their perception?controlling their perception?

What are the reference values?What are the reference values? Do people resist disturbances and control Do people resist disturbances and control

to maintain the reference values?to maintain the reference values? How do Ps perceive the task?How do Ps perceive the task? Are certain control system variables more Are certain control system variables more

closely associated with psychological closely associated with psychological problems? E.g. gain, negative references problems? E.g. gain, negative references

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PhenomenologyPhenomenology

Aim: to explore first person perceptions Aim: to explore first person perceptions over time, particularly in relation to over time, particularly in relation to psychological problemspsychological problems

Open questions followed up by MoL-style Open questions followed up by MoL-style questions (Q: Issue of intervention?)questions (Q: Issue of intervention?)

Interpretational Phenomenological Interpretational Phenomenological AnalysisAnalysis

Does it fit with PCT?Does it fit with PCT? Several students: Higginson; Hodson; Several students: Higginson; Hodson;

Huang; WestwoodHuang; Westwood

Higginson & Mansell (2007)Higginson & Mansell (2007)

Six individuals who had overcome Six individuals who had overcome major problems, e.g. anorexia, major problems, e.g. anorexia, chronic fatigue, traumatic grief, chronic fatigue, traumatic grief, depressiondepression

Asked about the process leading up Asked about the process leading up to and during recoveryto and during recovery

IPA analysisIPA analysis

Themes & sub-themes 1Themes & sub-themes 1

Issues of ControlIssues of Control Lack of control Lack of control

““I feel like I had some control over what was going on I feel like I had some control over what was going on and then all of a sudden its taken away”and then all of a sudden its taken away”

Control by OthersControl by Others ““everyone was saying, oh well you need to go back to everyone was saying, oh well you need to go back to

work and I just didn’t feel ready”work and I just didn’t feel ready” Lack of understanding from othersLack of understanding from others Inability to see the futureInability to see the future Negative self view – lost confidence to do Negative self view – lost confidence to do

anythinganything

Themes & sub-themes 2Themes & sub-themes 2

The Process of ChangeThe Process of Change Avoidance versus Facing the ProblemAvoidance versus Facing the Problem

““I wasn’t facing anything, I was running away”I wasn’t facing anything, I was running away” ““I had to face up to any crap I had been I had to face up to any crap I had been

through in my head”through in my head” Gradual changesGradual changes

““it was a trial and error process”it was a trial and error process” Sudden changesSudden changes

““Things just seemed to fall into place – che-Things just seemed to fall into place – che-ching!”ching!”

Themes & sub-themes 3Themes & sub-themes 3

New versus Old selfNew versus Old self Self as a changed personSelf as a changed person Getting to know oneselfGetting to know oneself Unfamiliar Old selfUnfamiliar Old self

Shifting perspectiveShifting perspective Rational perspectivesRational perspectives Acceptance of past problemAcceptance of past problem Positive view of experiencePositive view of experience

PCT ExplanationPCT Explanation

Control problems owing to conflict Control problems owing to conflict (not explicit)(not explicit)

Low order changes (gradual) and Low order changes (gradual) and high order reorganisation (sudden)high order reorganisation (sudden)

High order self perceives operation of High order self perceives operation of earlier lower order systemsearlier lower order systems

‘‘Going up a level’ as a process of Going up a level’ as a process of shifting perspectives?shifting perspectives?

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Hybrid DesignsHybrid Designs

Reorganisation of Conflict Scale (RoC; Reorganisation of Conflict Scale (RoC; Higginson & Mansell, 2007)Higginson & Mansell, 2007)

Items selected from theory and from Items selected from theory and from qualitative studyqualitative study

Blocking ReorganisationBlocking Reorganisation correlated with all other CBT maintaning correlated with all other CBT maintaning

processes, e.g. worry, experiential avoidance, processes, e.g. worry, experiential avoidance, thought suppressionthought suppression

Facilitating Reorganisation Facilitating Reorganisation predicted solving presenting problem after one predicted solving presenting problem after one

month, but only for highly distressing problemsmonth, but only for highly distressing problems

Example ItemsExample Items

Blocking ReorganisationBlocking Reorganisation ““When I have a problem, if often seems that When I have a problem, if often seems that

deciding to do one thing will stop me from doing deciding to do one thing will stop me from doing something else”something else”

““If I don’t find the solution to a problem straight If I don’t find the solution to a problem straight away, it will only get worse”away, it will only get worse”

Facilitating ReorganisationFacilitating Reorganisation ““I feel that it helps to just take a step back and I feel that it helps to just take a step back and

look at your problems from a different look at your problems from a different perspective”perspective”

““When I have a problem I find myself listening to When I have a problem I find myself listening to my thoughts to get a sense of perspective on my thoughts to get a sense of perspective on them” them”

Undergraduate StudyUndergraduate Study

Explore Goal Conflict using a matrix Explore Goal Conflict using a matrix method (Emmons & King, 1988)method (Emmons & King, 1988)

What predicts psychological distress? What predicts psychological distress? Degree of conflict?Degree of conflict? Tolerance of conflict?Tolerance of conflict? Whether goals are described as Whether goals are described as

avoidance or approach goals?avoidance or approach goals?Back

A Cognitive Model A Cognitive Model (Mansell, Morrison, Reid, Lowens & Tai, 2007)(Mansell, Morrison, Reid, Lowens & Tai, 2007)

Mood swings are a consequence of conflicted, Mood swings are a consequence of conflicted, extreme, personal appraisals of changes in extreme, personal appraisals of changes in internal stateinternal state

E.g. E.g. feelings of high energy = imminent successfeelings of high energy = imminent success vs. feelings of high energy = mental breakdownvs. feelings of high energy = mental breakdown Feelings of low energy = safe, relaxingFeelings of low energy = safe, relaxing vs. Feelings of low energy = failure, boringvs. Feelings of low energy = failure, boring

Leads to internal struggle trying to exert Leads to internal struggle trying to exert extreme control over internal states rather extreme control over internal states rather than active, successful ways of pursuing than active, successful ways of pursuing goalsgoals

High Energy,Agitated,

High Mood

“I must use this energy to excel and

overcome all my problems”

“I must slow down otherwise I will lose control

of my mind and go into hospital”

Conflicted Goals

INTERNAL STATE

Success!

Catastrophe!

Safety!

Failure!

De-activated Highly Activated

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Candidates for Core Candidates for Core Process?Process?

Processes conceptually overlap, e.g. Processes conceptually overlap, e.g. thought suppression, safety thought suppression, safety behaviours, recurrent negative behaviours, recurrent negative thinkingthinking

What are their shared features?What are their shared features? Experiential avoidance?Experiential avoidance? Perceived catastrophe?Perceived catastrophe? Self-destructiveness?Self-destructiveness?

Arbitrary ControlArbitrary Control (Powers, 1973, 2005; Adapted by Mansell, 2005 - PAPTRAP)(Powers, 1973, 2005; Adapted by Mansell, 2005 - PAPTRAP)

Part of Perceptual Control TheoryPart of Perceptual Control Theory Attempts to make experience confirm to Attempts to make experience confirm to

one set of goals without regard to other one set of goals without regard to other goals (and control systems) that may goals (and control systems) that may already be controlling that experiencealready be controlling that experience

Involves no understanding of higher order Involves no understanding of higher order motivesmotives

Persuading or ‘bullying’ self into action Persuading or ‘bullying’ self into action Creates conflict and cannot be resolved Creates conflict and cannot be resolved

except by letting go of control and except by letting go of control and allowing ‘reorganisation’ allowing ‘reorganisation’

Arbitrary Control Across Arbitrary Control Across Domains?Domains?

Worry: Worry: generation of perceived threat generation of perceived threat chronically conflicts with self-goalschronically conflicts with self-goals

Safety behaviour: Safety behaviour: behaviour directed to avoid behaviour directed to avoid perceived threat conflicts with self-goalsperceived threat conflicts with self-goals

Self-attacking:Self-attacking: attacks interfere with attacks interfere with construction and maintenance of self-goalsconstruction and maintenance of self-goals

Experiential avoidance:Experiential avoidance: suppression of suppression of normal, inevitable emotions, often using normal, inevitable emotions, often using languagelanguage

Mindless:Mindless: chronically unaware of sources & chronically unaware of sources & consequences of this internal conflictconsequences of this internal conflict

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Core UG SyllabusCore UG Syllabus

Mental health problems described Mental health problems described from first person, phenomenological from first person, phenomenological viewpointviewpoint

PCT model, MoL & service PCT model, MoL & service implications introducedimplications introduced

Lecture on self-regulatory Lecture on self-regulatory approaches to personality, largely on approaches to personality, largely on PCTPCT

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Specialist UG/Pg ModuleSpecialist UG/Pg Module

““Control and Conflict in Human Behaviour”Control and Conflict in Human Behaviour” 12 x 2 hour sessions12 x 2 hour sessions Supported by virtual learning environment Supported by virtual learning environment

(in development):(in development): Discussion forumsDiscussion forums Downloadable simulations, audio filesDownloadable simulations, audio files Presentation on key papers in fieldPresentation on key papers in field Their own implication or application of PCT to Their own implication or application of PCT to

chosen fieldchosen field

AimsAims

To appreciate the importance of control as a To appreciate the importance of control as a property of living systemsproperty of living systems

To understand how control can be achieved in To understand how control can be achieved in mechanistic termsmechanistic terms

To appreciate that conflict between different control To appreciate that conflict between different control systems best represents the problems to which systems best represents the problems to which humans need to adapthumans need to adapt

To understand the principles, mechanisms, To understand the principles, mechanisms, implications and applications of Perceptual Control implications and applications of Perceptual Control Theory (PCT).Theory (PCT).

To develop experience and understanding of Method To develop experience and understanding of Method of Levels as a psychotherapeutic technique.of Levels as a psychotherapeutic technique.

Course SessionsCourse Sessions The Problems with Psychology: A light but critical analysis of psychology as a The Problems with Psychology: A light but critical analysis of psychology as a

disciplinediscipline What is Control? Introduction of the principles and mechanisms of control within What is Control? Introduction of the principles and mechanisms of control within

engineering, biology, cybernetics and psychology.engineering, biology, cybernetics and psychology. What Causes Conflict and How is it Managed? A discussion of conflict across What Causes Conflict and How is it Managed? A discussion of conflict across

wide domains including practical demonstrations and everyday exampleswide domains including practical demonstrations and everyday examples Revisiting Psychology. A collaborative attempt to revisit key areas from the Revisiting Psychology. A collaborative attempt to revisit key areas from the

perspective of control, such as operant conditioning, cognitive psychology and perspective of control, such as operant conditioning, cognitive psychology and neuroscience.neuroscience.

Perceptual Control Theory (PCT) Part One. An explanation of behaviour as the Perceptual Control Theory (PCT) Part One. An explanation of behaviour as the control of perception and introduction to the hierarchy of control systems.control of perception and introduction to the hierarchy of control systems.

PCT Part Two. A discussion of conflict within PCT, its causes, consequences and PCT Part Two. A discussion of conflict within PCT, its causes, consequences and resolution through reorganisation.resolution through reorganisation.

Terminology Redefined. A discussion of how familiar concepts within Terminology Redefined. A discussion of how familiar concepts within psychology sit within PCT, including: automaticity, awareness, learning, psychology sit within PCT, including: automaticity, awareness, learning, memory, language, beliefs, emotion, imagination, personality, and cognitive memory, language, beliefs, emotion, imagination, personality, and cognitive behavioural therapy.behavioural therapy.

Applications of PCT. The wide uses of PCT within robotics, human factors, Applications of PCT. The wide uses of PCT within robotics, human factors, education, sociology, and psychology.education, sociology, and psychology.

Peoples’ Experience of Change. A discussion of how people manage, experience Peoples’ Experience of Change. A discussion of how people manage, experience and overcome conflict in their lives, and how approaches such as cognitive and overcome conflict in their lives, and how approaches such as cognitive behavioural therapy address change.behavioural therapy address change.

Method of Levels: A psychotherapeutic technique for facilitating intrinsic Method of Levels: A psychotherapeutic technique for facilitating intrinsic change or “How to do psychotherapy without getting in the way”change or “How to do psychotherapy without getting in the way”

Future Directions of PCT. Student’s perspectives on how PCT could be explored, Future Directions of PCT. Student’s perspectives on how PCT could be explored, utilised, and modified.utilised, and modified.

Review of Course. Questions and Answers.Review of Course. Questions and Answers. Back

Method of LevelsMethod of Levels

Small number of clients with bipolar Small number of clients with bipolar disorderdisorder

Taped sessions; supervision from Taped sessions; supervision from Tim; ongoing ‘developmental’ Tim; ongoing ‘developmental’ supervision locallysupervision locally

Plans for randomised study of Plans for randomised study of students with mild/moderate clinical students with mild/moderate clinical problems (Bird & Mansell)problems (Bird & Mansell)

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Self-help approachesSelf-help approaches

““Coping with Fears and Phobias: A Coping with Fears and Phobias: A step-by-step approach to step-by-step approach to understanding and facing your understanding and facing your anxieties” OneWorld Publications anxieties” OneWorld Publications 20072007

Adopts a CBT frameworkAdopts a CBT framework Writes from a PCT perspectiveWrites from a PCT perspective

Example QuotesExample Quotes

““We cannot have complete control over our We cannot have complete control over our thoughts, our feelings and over what other people thoughts, our feelings and over what other people do. More extreme attempts at control include do. More extreme attempts at control include criticism, bullying and abuse. By letting go of trying criticism, bullying and abuse. By letting go of trying hard to control things we cannot control, we can hard to control things we cannot control, we can experiment with being less perfectionistic, and learn experiment with being less perfectionistic, and learn to accept uncertainty, mistakes, inner conflict and to accept uncertainty, mistakes, inner conflict and error. I think that we need to accept these at times error. I think that we need to accept these at times because it is from these that we can learn new ways because it is from these that we can learn new ways of dealing with things in the future. So, much of this of dealing with things in the future. So, much of this book is about focusing on this uncertainty, because book is about focusing on this uncertainty, because out of uncertainty, alternative ways of seeing a out of uncertainty, alternative ways of seeing a problem and coping with it can arise.”problem and coping with it can arise.”

Example QuotesExample Quotes

““There are other things that we There are other things that we cancan generally control generally control in our lives. To realise this, we need to be aware of in our lives. To realise this, we need to be aware of them. The most fundamental thing we can typically them. The most fundamental thing we can typically control is what we focus on - what we choose to look control is what we focus on - what we choose to look at, listen to, smell, taste and feel. Even so, there are at, listen to, smell, taste and feel. Even so, there are limits. We cannot look at a beautiful scene if it is limits. We cannot look at a beautiful scene if it is obscured from view, or hear some quiet music if there obscured from view, or hear some quiet music if there is a loud background noise. So, we can be more active is a loud background noise. So, we can be more active to control yet more of our experiences. These include to control yet more of our experiences. These include getting new information, warm clothes, tasty food, getting new information, warm clothes, tasty food, recuperating rests, pleasant journeys, fulfilling recuperating rests, pleasant journeys, fulfilling sunshine and invigorating walks. Again some of these sunshine and invigorating walks. Again some of these are limited some of the time – in torrential rain for are limited some of the time – in torrential rain for example! So we need to think again. What can I example! So we need to think again. What can I control, given the limits?”control, given the limits?”

Computerised Self-HelpComputerised Self-Help

Website linked to book: Website linked to book: www.oneworld-publications.com/fearwww.oneworld-publications.com/fears/s/

Allows user to complete their own Allows user to complete their own 10-step plan; discussions with other 10-step plan; discussions with other usersusers

Could it be possible to deliver a form Could it be possible to deliver a form of MoL online?of MoL online?

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Issues for DiscussionIssues for Discussion

Tips and ideas about researching and Tips and ideas about researching and disseminating PCTdisseminating PCT

Are hybrid models of research and Are hybrid models of research and intervention acceptable?intervention acceptable?

How to share materials and methodsHow to share materials and methods What are the obstacles?What are the obstacles? How to manage themHow to manage them