Professional Articles

FREEDOM AND HOPE IN THE MULTIDETERMINED UNIVERSE

Robert F. Sarmiento, Ph.D., 1975

Abstract 

The issue of free will is fundamental and unresolved. From a subjective frame of reference, required by quantum mechanics, there are many possible future states of the universe. One implication of this is that humans may have mechanisms complementary to memory for probabilistic modeling of the future. The role of humans in determining which state will occur is unresolved. A subjective frame of reference is also necessary in considerations of conscious experience and from this perspective the universe distal to all transformation boundaries embodies or is structured by multiple sources including humans. Freedom and hope are meaningful in such a multidetermined universe.

 

THE PSYCHOLOGIST AS SYSTEMS ANALYST

Robert F. Sarmiento, Ph.D., 1990

Abstract

The view of the psychologist as healer persists despite advances in the science. An alternative conception is proposed, the psychologist as systems analyst. To illustrate, the author's Neurocybernetic Psychology is presented, including structural concepts or hardware and functional concepts or software. It is argued that when therapy works, it helps people reduce programming errors, bugs or disturbed interlocks resulting from intrinsic susceptibilities of the human biocontroller. Resistance to this view arises from erroneous arguments that it is dehumanizing and mechanistic. While there are dangers from a psychotechnology, there is also hope for more effective help. The concept of the psychologist as systems analyst can incorporate a multideterministic causality in which issues of consciousness, free will and power are fundamental.