A Systematic Review of Pliance, Tracking, and Augmenting

Area of Science:

• Behavioral Science
• Psychology
• Cognitive Science

Background:

• Relational Frame Theory (RFT) proposes three types of rule-governed behavior: pliance, tracking, and augmenting.
• These concepts, defined by Zettle and Hayes, are central to understanding human behavior.
• A review of experimental research is needed to validate these constructs.

Purpose of the Study:

• To examine the empirical support for pliance, tracking, and augmenting in behavioral-analytic research.
• To determine if these concepts represent distinct functional classes of behavior.
• To assess the operationalization of these concepts in experimental studies.

Main Methods:

• A literature review was conducted focusing on experimental studies.
• Studies published from 1982 onwards were included, aligning with the initial definition of the concepts.
• The review analyzed research for evidence of pliance, tracking, and augmenting.

Main Results:

• Experimental research investigating pliance, tracking, and augmenting is extremely limited.
• It is challenging to ascertain the extent to which these concepts enable precise experimental analyses of distinct behavioral classes.
• The operationalization of these concepts in research requires further clarification.

Conclusions:

• There is a significant lack of experimental research supporting the distinctiveness and operationalization of pliance, tracking, and augmenting within behavioral science.
• Further research is necessary to empirically validate these core concepts of Relational Frame Theory.
• The limited evidence makes it difficult to establish these as precisely defined, distinct functional classes of behavior.