Cognitive defusion

This chapter reviews the conceptualization and empirical evidence of the midlevel process called cognitivedefusion. Firstly, we present examples of cognitive fusion and cognitive defusion definitions offered inacceptance and commitment therapy (ACT) manuals, discuss their relationships with other ACT midlevelprocesses, and offer a relational frame theory (RFT) conceptualization of these processes. Secondly, wedescribe the type of cognitive defusion exercises and discuss the basic processes involved in them. Thirdly,we review the measurement of cognitive (de)fusion in the form of self-report instruments, behavioralmeasures, and the assessment in the clinical session. Fourthly, we present a review of the research oncognitive (de)fusion separated in laboratory research, survey research, and the analysis of processes ofchange in clinical trials. Lastly, we discuss some challenges and future directions in conceptualizing andresearching cognitive (de)fusion.

Self-as-Context

The ability to understand ourselves and take others’ perspectives is fundamental to the development of our sense of self. This article explores self-as-context, an acceptance and commitment therapy process that fosters a healthy sense of self and flexible perspective-taking. The discussion begins with a conceptual overview of self-as-context, highlighting its relevance to psychological well-being and its relation to both relational frame theory and traditional behavior-analytic principles. Also provided here are clinical descriptions of the process of change involved in developing a self-as-context repertoire and the means of assessing self-as-context, as well as a synthesis of the research that has been done on self-as-context to date. Finally, future directions for research and practice with this process of change are described.

Values in Acceptance and Commitment Therapy

While the concept of values has been present in behavioral traditions dating back to Skinner, the analysis of the role of values in modern contextual behavioral science (CBS) in relation to motivation has greatly expanded over the past 30 years. In particular, values are important in a modern understanding of the role of human language in modifying how reinforcement occurs. In this article we outline values work as a foundational component of acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT) and analyze values through a CBS and relational frame theory lens. Included are an extensive review of the empirical literature on the role of values in ACT and a discussion of values measures commonly used in CBS research and clinical practice. Finally, we offer recommendations for the next steps needed to expand our understanding of this essential process.

Acceptance and Commitment Therapy for Smoking Cessation

This article summarizes the theory, clinical methods, evidence, and mechanisms of action for the application of acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT) to tobacco smoking cessation. Following an overview of the relational frame theory underlying the ACT cessation interventions and contrasts between ACT and standard behavioral clinical practice guideline cessation interventions, a session-by-session clinical summary is presented for the delivery of an ACT cessation intervention. The evidence reviewed from the 15 randomized clinical trials published to date (total n = 6991) shows that ACT is a strong alternative to standard behavioral therapies when delivered in traditional modalities (e.g., group) and is particularly efficacious as a smartphone-delivered cessation intervention (e.g., iCanQuit smartphone app). Acceptance of cravings is an important mechanism of action. Future directions include next generations of digital delivery, such as conversational agents (i.e., “chatbots”).

Categorização hierárquica: revisão de estudos e possibilidades de intervenção para indivíduos com e sem atraso no desenvolvimento

A Teoria das Molduras Relacionais (Relational Frame Theory - RFT) explica a linguagem e cognição a partir do Responder Relacional Arbitrariamente Aplicável (RRAA). Um dos comportamentos passiveis de serem compreendidos a partir dessa perspectiva é a categorização hierárquica. O presente estudo teve como objetivo analisar as produções de literatura sobre molduras relacionais de hierarquia, com foco na avaliação, ensino e intervenções sobre categorização hierárquica. A partir do protocolo PRISMA, foram realizadas buscas a partir do Portal de Periódicos CAPES, e incluídos por meio de referências bibliográficas e por busca do Researchgate, publicações que atendiam aos seguintes critérios de inclusão: serem estudos empíricos relacionados à RFT e com treino relacional na moldura de hierarquia, focados em estabelecer a categorização. Um total de 15 publicações foram incluídas na revisão e foram classificadas em duas categorias: (a) Treino de Categorização Hierárquica e; (b) Outros. Os resultados da revisão demonstraram a existência de poucos estudos em molduras relacionais de hierarquias, incluído população com TEA. No entanto, foi possível atentar a eficiência dos procedimentos de ensino e foi destacada a importância de fomentar pesquisas na área, principalmente na população com TEA, com a perspectiva de aprimorar os currículos de ensino.

A Functional Contextualist Account of Behavioral Economics: Relational Frame Theory Applied to Decision-Making and Choice Behavior

Behavioral economics is a discipline that is mainly rooted in cognitivism and that is concerned with the study of decision-making processes and choice behavior. These involve addressing the relations between cognition and overt behavior, which comprise one of the most challenging topics in the domain of behavioral sciences at large and have been approached by different epistemological viewpoints. Within the cognitivist tradition, private events have been often treated as causes of behaviors, adopting a mechanistic view. Conversely, a contextual functional behavioral perspective treats them with the same methodology that is adopted for overt behaviors. Relational frame theory, a post-Skinnerian theory of language and cognition, offers a behavioral perspective on cognition and overt behavior and how they influence human behavior, by keeping a high degree of coherence with basic principles and goals of behavior analysis (i.e., effective action). This conceptual paper represents an attempt to offer a perspective drawn from contextual behavioral science on some constructs described in behavioral economics. Furthermore, it provides a common ground for behavior analysts and researchers in other fields of psychology to further expand our knowledge and respective explanations of decision-making processes. Finally, it draws a line for connecting basic research to applied solutions.

Healthy selfing: Theoretically optimal environments for the development of tacting and deictic relational responding

From a relational frame theory perspective, our sense of self is a by-product of language that arises from transformation of stimulus functions through relational framing of our own responding. In this way, selfing is an important action that allows us to clarify our needs, wants, and what matters to us. Tacting and deictic relational responding are two processes that are instrumental to the development of a healthy selfing repertoire. This paper provides an overview of tacting and deictic relational responding in accordance with relational frame theory in addition to features of an optimal environment for shaping these processes. In terms of tacting, it is important to consider learning environment sensitivity, consequence availability, the individual’s experience, and to facilitate rich discussions of private events. In terms of deictic relational responding, it is important to provide frequent interactions that contain multiple exemplars of distinctions between self and others in addition to rich discussions of private events while also tailoring to the individual when drawing from training protocols. We conclude with a brief overview of the current evidence base regarding the identified features.

Rule-governed behavior: An ongoing RFT-based operant analysis

Rule-governed behavior is broadly defined as verbal antecedent stimuli that specify dependence relations between stimuli and events. Since its conception, this definition has supported a relatively rich program of research within the experimental analysis of behavior. Specifically, researchers have sought to explore the extent to which verbal rules are involved in operant behavior, both in the basic and applied domains. However, some have highlighted the need for a more complete understanding of what “specification” means in the context of rule-following and behavior analysis. The current article aims to present an operant account of what it means to understand and follow verbal rules, drawing largely on stimulus equivalence, and focusing in particular on a relational frame theory (RFT) perspective. To this end, we provide an overview of an RFT-based operant account of rule-following as it currently stands, and outline a recent program of experimental research that has utilized this approach to explore the complexities involved in rule-following in the face of competing reinforcement contingencies, a phenomenon typically linked to human psychological suffering. Implications for going forward in developing a more complete operant account of rule-governed behavior in both the basic and applied domains are considered.

Relating is an Operant: A Fly Over of 35 Years of RFT Research

Relational Frame Theory (RFT) is the simplest form of operant theory since it claims nothing more than a particular type of behavior, arbitrarily applicable derived relational responding, is an operant. While the theory is simple, its implications are not, and adoption has been slow until recently. RFT was first formally described in 1985 and in the 35 years since, hundreds of studies have been conducted on relational learning from an operant point of view. The present paper briefly summarizes that history and examines some of its key claims. So far, the empirical program delineated by RFT has held up remarkably well. Future directions are delineated that will enable a more comprehensive evaluation of the importance of the RFT research program, and a more thorough exploration of its profound implications.