Relational coherence in ambiguous and unambiguous relational networks

On the Disruptive Effects of Behavior Analysis on Behavior Analysis: The High Cost of Keeping Out Acceptance and Commitment Therapy and Training

ACT is entering its 40th year of development. Despite its undeniable historical origins in behavior analysis, extensive basis in behavior analytic research, and now enormous body of empirical research supporting its basic claims, some are still arguing that ACT is not legitimately part of behavior analysis. We agree with the target article that it is. We argue, however, that critics are right to feel that ACT will disrupt the field. It will do so not because of ACT per se, but because it brings relational frame theory (RFT) in with it and vice versa, and relational operants operate on other behavioral processes. This empirically established effect means that the vast literature on direct contingency control will need to be reexamined piece by piece while considering relational learning abilities. Such an agenda is exciting, but it is also daunting and disorienting. For behavior analysis to reject either ACT or RFT, both must be rejected. That appears to be the only way to avoid the coming disruption, but the cost would be in the distortion of the field itself that would result. Sometime the products of a scientific field require a fundamental rethinking of that field. In our view, that is the situation behavior analysis now faces. It is a kind of test, and we do not yet know if behavior analysis will pass it.

A Process-Based Analysis of Cognitive Defusion in Acceptance and Commitment Therapy

Cognitive defusion is among the main components of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), a contextual behavioral approach to psychotherapy. Defusion serves as a middle-level term, and, as such, may be useful for applying and disseminating behavior science, despite its lower precision. However, some authors argue that for middle-level terms in psychotherapy to be useful to clinicians, they need to be clearly linked to basic behavioral concepts, with higher precision; and that this is not currently the case with defusion. Our objective is to increase the pragmatic utility of the concept of "cognitive defusion" by providing a more nuanced, multifaceted and process-based definition of the term. In order to do this, we surveyed the ACT literature regarding defusion and critically examined it through the lens of conceptual analysis. This culminated in a revised and updated conceptualization of defusion in terms of its relationship to basic behavioral concepts, in which defusion is an outcome that may be achieved through different processes.

An Open-Source Relational Network Derivation Script in R for Modeling and Visualizing Complex Behavior for Scientists and Practitioners

Relational models of cognition provide parsimonious and actionable models of generative behavior witnessed in humans. They also inform many current computational analogs of cognition including Deep Neural Networks, Reinforcement Learning algorithms, Self-Organizing Maps, as well as blended architectures that are outperforming traditional semantic models. The black box nature of these computer models artificially limits scientific and applied progress and human computer interaction. This paper presents a first in the field attempt to model relational processes using logical derivation scripts and network graph visualizations written in the open-source R language. These tools are presented as a way for researchers and practitioners to begin to explore more complex relational models in a manner that can advance the theory and empirical science, as well as prepare the field for future collaborations with advanced computational models of cognition.

Relational Density Theory: Nonlinearity of Equivalence Relating Examined through Higher-Order Volumetric-Mass-Density

We propose relational density theory, as an integration of stimulus equivalence and behavioral momentum theory, to predict the nonlinearity of equivalence responding of verbal humans. Consistent with Newtonian classical mechanics, the theory posits that equivalence networks will demonstrate the higher order properties of density, volume, and mass. That is, networks containing more relations (volume) that are stronger (density) will be more resistant to change (i.e., contain greater mass; mass = volume * density). Data from several equivalence experiments that are not easily interpreted through existing accounts are described in terms of the theory, generating predictable results in most cases. In addition, we put forward the higher-order properties of relational acceleration and gravity, which follow directly from the theory and may inspire future researchers to evaluate the seemingly self-organizing nature of human cognition. Finally, we conclude by describing avenues for real-world translation, considering past research interpreted through relational density theory, and call for basic experimental research to validate and extend core theoretical assumptions.

An annotated bibliography of verbal behavior articles published outside of The Analysis of Verbal Behavior: 2016

An annotated bibliography is provided that summarizes journal articles on verbal behavior published outside of The Analysis of Verbal Behavior in 2016, the primary journal for scholarship in this area. Thirty-seven such articles were identified and annotated as a resource for practitioners, researchers, and educators.

Flexibilidad Relacional y Estrés Parental

El objetivo de este estudio fue evaluar la relación entre niveles altos y moderados de estrés parental y relaciones derivadas en una muestra de padres y estudiantes de pregrado. Para este estudio se utilizó un diseño de comparación entre grupos con una medida pretest. La muestra total se dividió en tres grupos, trece padres con niveles altos en el Índice de Estrés Parental (IEP) fueron asignados a un grupo, otros trece padres con puntajes moderados en el IEP se asignaron a un segundo grupo, y trece estudiantes de pregrado fueron asignados a un grupo control. Inicialmente todos los participantes fueron expuestos a un video de un niño presentando conductas disruptivas. Seguido de esto, todos los participantes fueron expuestos a un procedimiento de entrenamiento en discriminaciones condicionales A-B y A-C; el grupo de estímulos A correspondía a figuras sin sentido, el grupo B a conductas disruptivas de los niños y el grupo C de estímulos conductas positivas de los padres. Luego se entrenaron relaciones mixtas (A-B y A-C), y finalmente se evaluaron relaciones de transitividad y equivalencia. Los resultados muestran que los participantes con estrés alto presentaron menor precisión de respuesta, y mayores latencias de respuesta en las relaciones derivadas comparado con el grupo de estrés moderado y control. Lo anterior indica que los padres que presentan altos niveles de estrés parental, tienen mayor dificultad para establecer nuevas relaciones de estímulos, especialmente aquellos con valencia emocional. Estos resultados tienen implicaciones a nivel clínico, específicamente en la flexibilidad relacional.