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Deictic Relational Responding, Empathy, and Experiential Avoidance as Predictors of Social Anhedonia: Further Contributions From Relational Frame Theory

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Abstract

Social anhedonia has been linked to the development and exacerbation of psychosis. The present study explored the hypothesis that scores in social anhedonia are related to deictic relational responding, empathic concern, and experiential avoidance, as suggested by relational frame theory and acceptance and commitment therapy. College students (N = 110) from a Spanish university completed self-report measures of social anhedonia, empathy, and experiential avoidance. Deictic relational responding was measured by performance on a behavioral task. Sequential multiple regression indicated that deictic relational responding, empathy, and experiential avoidance have a large relationship size with social anhedonia, accounting for 26% of the total variance, and minimal overlap among each other. These data support the utility of these processes as predictors of social anhedonia, suggesting new psychological targets for its prevention and treatment. The implication of these processes for the development of psychosis should be explored.

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  1. Department of Psychology, MS 298, University of Nevada, Reno, Reno, NV, 89557, USA

    Roger Vilardaga, Michael E. Levin & Steven C. Hayes

  2. University of Deusto, Spain

    Ana Estévez

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  1. Roger Vilardaga
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  2. Ana Estévez
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Vilardaga, R., Estévez, A., Levin, M.E. et al. Deictic Relational Responding, Empathy, and Experiential Avoidance as Predictors of Social Anhedonia: Further Contributions From Relational Frame Theory. Psychol Rec 62, 409–432 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03395811

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