Relational frame theory
Also known as RFT
A behavioural theory of language: we learn to relate things, and those links shape us.
At a glance
In plain words
Arbitrary relations, Mutual entailment, Combinatorial entailment …
See all 5Examples
Nickel and dime, Mutual entailment, Combinatorial entailment …
See all 7Where it comes from
After Skinner, Why therapy cares
See all 2What the research says
Support, Animals, Still debated
See all 3Connections
Steven C. Hayes, Acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT) and 5 others
See all 7
Also on this page: Key facts · Links · Sources · Related pages
- Relational frame theory says the basic building block of language and thinking is relating one thing to another.
- Humans learn to derive relations they were never taught, like "if A is bigger than B, B is smaller than A".
- Those derived links can change what things mean to us, so a word can come to feel dangerous.
- It is the research basis of Acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT).
Why it matters
- It explains why thoughts alone can hurt us so much, which is the problem ACT is built to solve.
Key facts
- In short
- A behaviour-analytic theory of human language and cognition1
- Developed by
- Steven C. Hayes at the University of Nevada, Reno; extended by Dermot Barnes-Holmes and colleagues at Ghent University1
- Key book
- Relational Frame Theory: A Post-Skinnerian Account of Human Language and Cognition (2001)1
- Based on
- Functional contextualism, an extension of B.F. Skinner's radical behaviourism2
- Evidence
- About 300 studies have tested its ideas1
In plain words
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Arbitrary relations1
The word "cow" relates to the animal only by social convention, not by anything physical. Responding to such learned links is the core skill.
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Mutual entailment1
Learn that Jared is older than Jacob, and you know without being told that Jacob is younger than Jared.
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Combinatorial entailment1
Learn A relates to B and B to C, and you can derive how A relates to C.
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Transformation of function1
A neutral thing can become attractive or frightening just by being related to something valued or dangerous.
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Kinds of frames1
Children learn sameness first, then difference, opposition and before/after, and can then apply them to anything.
Examples
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Nickel and dime4
A very young child knows a nickel is bigger than a dime by physical size. Only later does the child learn that a nickel is "smaller" than a dime, a relation that exists only by social convention.
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Mutual entailment4
If a nickel is "smaller" than a dime, the child also derives, without being taught, that a dime is "bigger" than a nickel.
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Combinatorial entailment4
If a penny is smaller than a nickel and a nickel is smaller than a dime, the child derives that a penny is smaller than a dime.
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Transformation of function4
If a nickel has been used to buy candy, a dime will now be preferred, even though it has never been used to buy anything.
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Fear travels through words4
Someone shocked in the presence of B who then learns that B is smaller than C may react more strongly to C than to B, though only B was paired with the shock.
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Spatial frames1
Joyce is in front of Peter, and Peter is in front of Lucy. From this you derive that Peter is behind Joyce and that Joyce is in front of Lucy.
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Arbitrary and physical functions1
A one-dollar bill is green by its physical make-up, but its value is an arbitrary function, given to it only by convention.
Where it comes from
What the research says
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Support1
Studies support the role of multiple examples, context and consequences, and cover metaphor, perspective-taking and reasoning.
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Animals1
Relational framing has not been clearly shown in non-human animals.
-
Still debated1
It remains controversial in behavioural psychology, and how tightly ACT really rests on it is debated.
Connections
Related
- Acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT)TopicIts basic science of language; Hayes built both and each inspired the other
- Acceptance and Commitment Therapy: The Process and Practice of Mindful ChangeBookThe theory of language the book builds on
- Association for Contextual Behavioral ScienceOrganizationSupports research on RFT
- Embracing Your Demons: an Overview of Acceptance and Commitment TherapyPaperNames RFT as ACT's basic research on language
- The Oxford Handbook of Acceptance and Commitment TherapyBookHas a primer chapter on RFT
- Relational Frame Theory: A Post-Skinnerian Account of Human Language and CognitionBookThe book that set out the theory
Links
Sources
- Relational frame theory (Wikipedia) (opens en.wikipedia.org)
- Functional contextualism (Wikipedia) (opens en.wikipedia.org)
- Embracing Your Demons: an Overview of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (Russ Harris, Psychotherapy in Australia, August 2006) (opens actmindfully.com.au)
- Theoretical roots (Association for Contextual Behavioral Science) (opens contextualscience.org)
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