Perceptual Control and Social Power

Bibliographic Data

ID2516137
AuthorsKent Mcclelland (Grinnell College, corresponding author)
Year1994
Volume37
Issue4
Pages461-496
Publication date1994-12-01
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueSociological Perspectives (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 0731-1214 • E-ISSN: 1533-8673
PublisherSAGE Publications Inc (PUBLISHER)
DOI10.2307/1389276
OpenAlexW2061079342
LanguageEN
Citations received5
References cited67

This article explores a new psychological perspective on human behavior, a cybernetic approach called 'perceptual control theory' (PCT). After detailing the PCT model, I demonstrate one application of PCT to sociological theory by applying this perspective to questions of power and interpersonal control. I argue that social power should be distinguished from interpersonal use of force, coercion, incentives, or influence. Rather, power derives from an alignment of goals by humans acting as independent control systems. The article closes with a discussion of connections between PCT and several strands of current sociological theory

Cybernetics · Epistemology · Interpersonal communication · Perception · Social control · Social science · Sociology · Computer Science · Psychology · Social and Intergroup Psychology · Social Power and Status Dynamics · Social Psychology · Social Representations and Identity · Artificial Intelligence