Interdisciplinary Handbook of Perceptual Control Theory: Current Perspectives

Given the fundamental challenges to society in this era, a radical rewrite of how we approach science and culture is necessary. This handbook applies Perceptual Control Theory (PCT) to achieve a much needed convergence across the physical, life and social sciences, the humanities and arts. In doing so it addresses challenges such as mental illness, dementia, cancer care, toxic masculinity and societal oppression. It also reveals how PCT can be applied to practical issues such as understanding healthcare service implementation and human-machine interaction, as well as deeper questions such as consciousness and imagination. This second volume of the successful interdisciplinary handbook offers rich examples of how the unifying perceptual control framework can provide a viable alternative to existing theories and methodologies for a timely paradigm shift.

• Examines the relationship between our perceptions, consciousness, and imagination
• Provides computational and mathematical models for physiological systems, such as human movement, human-machine interaction, and psychological processes such as recovery from mental health problems
• Presents health as control which leads to game-changing suggestions in designing interventions for health behavior, cancer support, care for dementia, and mental health services
• Helps readers comprehend goals of teachers and students in education from a PCT perspective to show how educative interactions could be less coercive and foster flourishing
• The value of PCT is demonstrated in understanding cultural memes and social challenges such as toxic masculinity

Dr. Mansell has written over sixty interdisciplinary publications on perceptual control theory, has convened three international conferences on PCT, and hosts a website pctweb.org that has received over 35,000 views since its inception in 2009. His work on PCT has appeared on UK national television, in science museums, and online newspaper and magazine articles. He has authored and edited various books, including: Coping with Fears and Phobias (2007), A Transdiagnostic Approach to CBT using Method of Levels Therapy (2012), Principles-Based Counselling and Psychotherapy (2015), Oxford Guide to Metaphors in CBT (2010), and The Bluffer’s Guide to Psychology (2006).

Eva de Hullu is assistant professor at the Faculty of Psychology at the Open University, the Netherlands. She is also the current Chair of the International Association of Perceptual Control Theory (IAPCT) and has presented work on PCT in IAPCT conferences. (eva.dehullu@ou.nl)

Vyv Huddy is a Lecturer in Clinical Psychology at the University of Sheffield, UK. He has co-authored a number of published articles utilising PCT across the field of psychology research. He is qualified in Clinical Psychology at Royal Holloway (University of London) in 2008. His first post as clinical psychologist was in research, where he joined a team developing Cognitive Remediation Therapy for psychosis. During this post, and subsequently working in a prison and acute inpatient mental health settings, he became interested in developing patient perspective therapy for secondary care, inpatient and other secure settings. Very recently, he has also become interested in taking a community psychology approach to working alongside communities and organisations to develop their resources and agency - 64 Million Artists (https://64millionartists.com) are a key partner in a line of research on this topic. (v.huddy@sheffield.ac.uk)

Tom Scholte is a Professor of Acting and Directing in the Department of Theatre and Film at the University of British Columbia in Vancouver, Canada located on the ancestral, traditional, and unceded territory of the Musqueam people. He is also the Faculty Lead/Artistic Director of Conflict Theatre@UBC and the host of the Systems and Cybernetics section of the New Book Network, and hosted the 2019 American Cybernetics Society Annual Conference. (tom.scholte@ubc.ca)