Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Relational frame theory, acceptance and commitment therapy, and a functional analytic definition of mindfulness

  • Published:
Journal of Rational-Emotive and Cognitive-Behavior Therapy Aims and scope Submit manuscript

ABSTRACT

The present article interprets mindfulness from the point of view of the effects of language and cognition on human action. Relational Frame Theory is described to show how human suffering is created by entanglement with the cognitive networks made possible by language. Mindfulness can be understood as a collection of related processes that function to undermine the dominance of verbal networks, especially involving temporal and evaluative relations. These processes include acceptance, defusion, contact with the present moment, and the transcendent sense of self. Each of these components of mindfulness are targeted in Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, and there is some evidence that they underlie the therapeutic changes induced by this approach. The relation between the present approach to mindfulness and other approaches is discussed.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Figure 1.

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Bach P., Hayes S. C. (2002). The use of acceptance and commitment therapy to prevent the rehospitalization of psychotic patients: A randomized controlled trial Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology 70: 1129–1139

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Baer R., (2003). Mindfulness training as a clinical intervention: a conceptual and empirical review Clinical Psychology: Science & Practice10125–143

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bishop S. R., Lau M., Shapiro S., Carlson L., Anderson N. D. Carmody J., Segal Z. V., Abbey S., Speca M., Velting D. Devins G. (2004) Mindfulness: A Proposed Operational Definition Clinical Psychology: Science and Practice 11(3): 230–241

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Blackledge (2004). Using acceptance and commitment therapy in the support of parents of children diagnosed with autism. Unpublished doctoral dissertation. University at Nevada, Reno

  • Block, J. A. (2002). Acceptance or change of private experiences: A comparative analysis in students with public speaking anxiety. Doctoral dissertation. University at Albany, State University of New York

  • Bond F., Bunce D. (2000). Mediators of change in problem-focused and emotion-focused worksite stress management interventions Journal of Occupational Health Psychology 5(1): 156–163

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Branstetter, Wilson, Hildebrandt, & Mutch (2004). Improving psychological adjustment among cancer patients: Treatment development and comparison of ACT to CBT. Unpublished data presented at the 38th convention of AABT, New Orleans

  • Davidson R. J., Kabat-Zinn J., Schumacher J., Rosenkranz M., Muller D., Santorelli S., Urbanowski F., Harrington A., Bonus K., Sheridan J. F., (2003) Alterations in brain and immune function produced by mindfulness meditation Psychosomatic Medicine 65:564–570

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Dimidjian S. D., Linehan M. M. (2003). Mindfulness practice In: O’Donohue W., Fisher J., Hayes S., (eds) Cognitive behavior therapy: Applying empirically supported techniques in your practice. Wiley, New York, (229–237)

    Google Scholar 

  • Eifert, G. H., Heffner, M. (2003). The effects of acceptance versus contyrol contexts on avoidance of panic-related symptoms Journal of Behavior Therapy and Experimental Psychiatry 34(3–4): 293–312

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Feldner, M. T., Zvolensky, M. J., Eifert, G. H., Spira, A. P. (2003). Emotional avoidance: An experimental test of individual differences and response suppression using biological challenge Behavior Research and Therapy 41(4): 403–411

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Gaudiano, B. A., & Herbert, J. D. (2005). Acute treatment of inpatients with psychotic symptoms using acceptance and commitment therapy: Pilot results. Manuscript under review

  • Gifford, E. V., Kohlenberg, B. S., Hayes, S. C., Antonuccio, D. O., Piasecki, M. M., Rasmussen-Hall, M. L., & Palm, K. M. (2004). Acceptance-based treatment for smoking cessation Behavior Therapy 35(4), 689–705

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Gregg, J. A. (2004). A randomized controlled effectiveness trial comparing patient education with and without acceptance and commitment therapy for type 2 diabetes self-management. Unpublished doctoral dissertation. University at Nevada, Reno

  • Grossman P., Neimann L., Schmidt S., Walach H. (2004). Mindfulness-based stress reduction and health benefits: A meta-analysis Journal of Psychosomatic Research 57: 35–43

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Gutierrez, O., Luciano, C., Rodriguez, M., Fink, B.C., (2004). Comparison between an acceptance-based and a cognitive-control-based protocol for coping with pain Behavior Therapy 35(4): 767–783

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hayes S. C., (1984). Making sense of spirituality Behaviorism 12(2): 99–110

    Google Scholar 

  • Hayes S. C. (2002). Buddhism and acceptance and commitment therapy Cognitive and Behavioral Practice 9: 58–66

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hayes S. C., Barnes-Holmes D., Roche B. (Eds.) (2001). Relational frame theory: A post-Skinnerian account of human language and cognition. New York: Kluwer Academic/Plenum Press

  • Hayes, S. C., Bissett, R. T. Korn, Z., Zettle, R. D., Rosenfarb, I. S., Cooper, L. D., Grundt, A. M. (1999). The impact of acceptance versus con trol rationales on pain tolerance Psychological Record 49(1): 33–47

    Google Scholar 

  • Hayes, S. C., Follette, V., & Linehan, M. (Eds.) (2004). Mindfulness and acceptance: Expanding the cognitive-behavioral tradition. New York: Guilford Press

  • Hayes, S. C., Luoma, J., Bond, F., Masuda, A., & Lillis, J. (in press). Acceptance and commitment therapy: model, processes, and outcomes. Behaviour Research and Therapy

  • Hayes S. C., Masuda A., Bissett R., Luoma J., Guerrero L. F. (2004). DBT, FAP, and ACT: How empirically oriented are the new behavior therapy technologies? Behavior Therapy 35: 35–54

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hayes S. C., Shenk C., (2004). Operationalizing mindfulness without unnecessary attachments Clinical Psychology: Science and Practice 11: 249–254

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hayes S. C., Strosahl K. D., Wilson K. G. (1999). Acceptance and commitment therapy: An experiential approach to behavior change Guilford Press, New York

    Google Scholar 

  • Hayes S. C., Wilson K. G. (2003). Mindfulness: Method and process Clinical Psychology Science & Practice, 10: 161–165

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hayes, S. C., Wilson, K. G., Gifford, E. V., Bissett, R., Piasecki, M., Batten, S. V., Byrd, M., Gregg, J. (2004). A preliminary trial of twelve-step facilitation and acceptance and commitment therapy with polysubstance-abusing methadone-maintained opiate addicts Behavior Therapy 35(4): 667–688

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hayes S. C., Wilson K. G., Gifford E. V., Follette V. M., Strosahl K. (1996). Emotional avoidance and behavioral disorders: A functional dimensional approach to diagnosis and treatment Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology 64: 1152–1168

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Kabat-Zinn J., 1994. Wherever you go there you are: Mindfulness meditations in everyday life Hyperion, New York

    Google Scholar 

  • Langer E. J., (2000) Mindful learning Current directions in psychological science 9(6): 220–223

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Levitt, J. T., Brown, T. A., Orsillo, S. M., Barlow, D. H. (2004). The effects of acceptance versus suppression of emotion on subjective and psychophysiological response to carbon dioxide challenge in patients with panic disorder Behavior Therapy 35(4): 747–766

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Linehan M. M., Armstrong H. E., Suarez A., Allmon D., Heard H. L. (1991). Cognitive-behavioral treatment of chronically parasuicidal borderline patients Archives of General Psychiatry 48: 1060–1064

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Linehan M. M., Heard H. L., Armstrong H. E. (1993). Naturalistic follow-up of a behavioral treatment for chronically parasuicidal borderline patients Archives of General Psychiatry 50: 971–974

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Marlatt G. A., Kristeller J. L., (1999). Mindfulness and meditation In: Miller W.R. (eds) Integrating spirituality into treatment. American Psychological Association, Washington DC (pp. 67–84)

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  • Masuda A., Hayes S. C., Sackett C. F., Twohig M. P. (2004). Cognitive defusion and self-relevant negative thoughts: Examining the impact of a ninety year old technique Behaviour Research and Therapy 42: 477–485

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Martin J. R., (1997). Mindfulness: A proposed common factor Journal of Psychotherapy Integration 7: 291–312

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • McCracken, L. M., Vowles, K. E., Eccleston, C. (2004). Acceptance of chronic pain: Component analysis and a revised assessment method Pain 107(1–2): 159–166

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • McHugh L., Barnes-Holmes Y., Barnes-Holmes D. (2004). Perspective-taking as relational responding: A developmental profile Psychological Record 54(1): 115–144

    Google Scholar 

  • Segal Z. V., Williams J. M. G., Teasdale J. D. (2002). Mindfulness-based cognitive therapy for depression: A new approach to preventing relapse Guilford, New York

    Google Scholar 

  • Shenk, C., Masuda, A., Bunting, K., & Hayes, S. C. (in press). The psychological processes underlying mindfulness: Exploring the link between Buddhism and modern contextual behavioral psychology. In D. K. Nauriyal (Ed.), The Buddha’s way: The confluence of Buddhist thought, contemporary psychology and consciousness studies in the post-modern age. London: Routledge-Curzon

  • Strosahl K. D., Hayes S. C., Bergan J., Romano P. (1998). Does field based training in behavior therapy improve clinical effectiveness? Evidence from the Acceptance and Commitment Therapy training project Behavior Therapy 29: 35–64

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Suzuki D. T. (1997). Touyouteki na mikata [Eastern way of thinking] Iwanami Shoten, Tokyo

    Google Scholar 

  • Takahashi, M., Muto, T., Tada, M., Sugiyama M. (2002). Acceptance rationale and increasing pain tolerance: Acceptance-based and FEAR-based practice Japanese Journal of Behavior Therapy 28: 35–46

    Google Scholar 

  • The Dalai Lama (1997). The four noble truths Thorsons, An Imprint from HarperCollins, London

    Google Scholar 

  • Titchener E. B. (1916). A text-book of psychology Macmillan, New York

    Google Scholar 

  • Zettle R. D. (2003). Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) vs. systematic desensitization in treatment of mathematics anxiety The Psychological Record 53(2): 197–215

    Google Scholar 

  • Zettle R. D., Hayes S. C. (1987) Component and process analysis of cognitive therapy Psychological Reports 61(3): 939–953

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Zettle R. D., Raines J. C. (1989). Group cognitive and contextual therapies in treatment of depression Journal of Clinical Psychology 45: 438–445

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. University of Nevada, Reno, USA

    Lindsay Fletcher & Steven C. Hayes

  2. University of Nevada, Reno, USA

    Steven C. Hayes

  3. Department of Psychology, University of Nevada, Reno, NV, 89557-0062, USA

    Steven C. Hayes

Authors
  1. Lindsay Fletcher
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Steven C. Hayes
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Steven C. Hayes.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Fletcher, L., Hayes, S.C. Relational frame theory, acceptance and commitment therapy, and a functional analytic definition of mindfulness. J Rat-Emo Cognitive-Behav Ther 23, 315–336 (2005). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10942-005-0017-7

Download citation

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10942-005-0017-7

Keywords

Search

Navigation