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Acceptance and Commitment Training in Applied Behavior Analysis: Where Have You Been All My Life?
Amanda D Kelly1, Michelle E Kelly2
1Firefly Autism, 2001 Hoyt Street, Lakewood, CO USA.
Behavior Analysis in Practice
|August 3, 2021
Summary
Behavior analysts can improve interventions for complex behaviors by integrating Acceptance and Commitment Training (ACTr) and Relational Frame Theory (RFT). This approach enhances the analysis of covert verbal behavior for socially significant change.
Area of Science:
- Integrative psychology
- Behavioral science
- Clinical psychology
Background:
- Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) traditionally focuses on observable behavior.
- Complex behaviors are often influenced by covert verbal behavior (thoughts and feelings).
- Existing ABA frameworks may not fully address the impact of private events.
Purpose of the Study:
- To guide behavior analysts in applying Relational Frame Theory (RFT) and Acceptance and Commitment Training (ACTr) within ABA.
- To provide a rationale for conceptualizing thoughts as behavior.
- To highlight the benefits of ACTr for addressing complex and covert behaviors.
Main Methods:
- Review of core principles of Relational Frame Theory (RFT).
- Explanation of Acceptance and Commitment Training (ACTr) components.
- Discussion of the transformation of stimulus function and relational framing.
- Integration of RFT and ACTr within the ABA service delivery model.
Main Results:
- Considering thoughts as behavior, through RFT, offers a more comprehensive analysis.
- ACTr provides practical strategies for behavior analysts to address covert verbal behavior.
- This integrated approach can lead to more effective interventions for socially significant change.
Conclusions:
- Behavior analysts can enhance their practice by incorporating RFT and ACTr.
- Expanding the analysis of maintaining variables to include private events is crucial.
- Adoption of RFT and ACTr can lead to more effective and comprehensive behavioral interventions.
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