Behavior: No Deus ex Machina

Biofeedback was once hailed as "the single greatest development in the history of psychology." The development of new machines in the '60s offered the possibility of monitoring one's own brain waves, heartbeat, blood pressure, body temperature and other involuntary body functions. The theory: the buzzes, lights or other indicators of biofeedback machines instantly report the body's reaction to thoughts or feelings. Once a patient discovers, for example, which feelings or tensions are associated with a warning buzz or light in the machine, he can learn by trial and error to shift his thoughts...