Relational Frame Theory: A Post-Skinnerian Account of Human Language and Cognition

Derived relations are the core1

Relating events in ways never directly trained (if A=B and A=C, then B=C) is at the heart of any meaningful psychology of language and cognition.

Relating is learned behavior1

Chapter 2 treats derived relational responding as operant behavior learned through multiple examples.

Post-Skinnerian1

It stays within the behavioral tradition but asks it to move beyond many of Skinner's specific formulations about verbal behavior.

Mutual entailment2

Learn "A is older than B" and you can derive "B is younger than A" without being taught it.

Combinatorial entailment2

From A-to-B and B-to-C relations, A-to-C and C-to-A relations can be derived.

Transformation of function2

If C is called dangerous and A is "more than" C, A becomes more frightening though nothing happened to A, which helps explain how words create suffering.

Analogy, metaphor and the self1

Chapters extend the account to relations among relations (analogies, metaphors, stories), problem solving and the self.

Contested within behaviorism2

Wikipedia notes RFT is still somewhat controversial in behavioral psychology, less over data than over whether it is a step forward.

Link to ACT debated2

How far basic RFT science actually informs ACT in practice remains an open discussion in the field.

Acceptance and Commitment Therapy: The Process and Practice of Mindful Change

How the theory turns into a therapy.

The Oxford Handbook of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy

Has a newer primer on RFT and its clinical use, alongside the rest of ACT.