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Relational frame theory

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Relational Frame Theory, or RFT, is a psychological theory of human language and cognition. It was developed largely through the efforts of Steven C. Hayes of University of Nevada, Reno and Dermot Barnes-Holmes of National University of Ireland, Maynooth and is currently being tested in about three dozen laboratories around the world.

Relational Frame Theory focuses on how humans learn language through interactions with the environment and is based on a philosophical approach referred to as functional contextualism. Functional contextualism emphasizes the importance of predicting and influencing psychological events such as thoughts, feelings, and behaviors, by focusing on manipulable variables in the context in which these events occur. In RFT, functional contextualism is applied as a means for extending B.F. Skinner's radical behaviorism to account for the emergence of complex cognitive and language competencies and capabilities from more basic, precursor learning processes.

Development

RFT is a behavioral approach to language.[1] B.F. Skinner proposed one such approach in 1957 in his book Verbal Behavior. Skinner presented his approach as an interpretation, not an experimental research program, and researchers commonly acknowledge that the research products are somewhat limited in scope. For example, it has been useful in some aspects of language training in developmentally disabled children, but it has not led to a robust research program in the range of areas relevant to language and cognition, such as problem-solving, reasoning, metaphor, logic, and so on. RFT advocates are fairly bold in stating that their goal is an experimental behavioral research program in all such areas, and RFT research has indeed emerged in a number of these areas including grammar.[2]

In a review of Skinner's book, linguist Noam Chomsky argued that the generativity of language shows that it cannot simply be learned, that there must be some innate "language acquisition device". Many have seen this review as a turning point, when cognitivism took the place of behaviorism as the mainstream in psychology. Behavior analysts generally viewed the criticism as largely off point (for a behavior analytic response to Chomsky, see MacCorquodale (1970), On Chomsky's Review Of Skinner's Verbal Behavior), but it is undeniable that psychology turned its attention elsewhere and the review was very influential in helping to produce the rise of cognitive psychology.

Despite the lack of attention from the mainstream, behavior analysis is alive and growing. Its application has been extended to areas such as language and cognitive training,[3] animal training, business and school settings, as well as hospitals and areas of research.

RFT distinguishes itself from Skinner's work by identifying and defining a particular type of operant conditioning known as derived relational responding. This is a learning process that to date appears to occur only in humans possessing a capacity for language. Derived relational responding is theorized to be a pervasive influence on almost all aspects of human behavior. The theory represents an attempt to provide a more empirically progressive account of complex human behavior while preserving the naturalistic approach of behavior analysis.[3]

Evidence

Several dozen studies have tested RFT ideas. Supportive data exists in the areas needed to show that an action is "operant" such as the importance of multiple examples in training derived relational responding, the role of context, and the importance of consequences. Derived relational responding has also been shown to alter other behavioral processes such as classical conditioning, an empirical result that RFT theorists point to in explaining why relational operants modify existing behavioristic interpretations of complex human behavior. Empirical advances have also been made by RFT researchers in the analysis and understanding of such topics as metaphor, perspective taking, and reasoning.[4]

Proponents of RFT often indicate the failure to establish a vigorous experimental program in language and cognition as the key reason why behavior analysis fell out of the mainstream of psychology despite its many contributions, and argue that RFT might provide a way forward. The theory is still somewhat controversial within behavioral psychology, however. At the current time the controversy is not primarily empirical since RFT studies[5] publish regularly in mainstream behavioral journals and few empirical studies have yet claimed to contradict RFT findings. Rather the controversy seems to revolve around whether RFT is a positive step forward, especially given that its implications seem to go beyond many existing interpretations and extensions from within this intellectual tradition.[6]

Applications

Acceptance and commitment therapy

RFT underlies the therapeutic practice known as Acceptance and Commitment Therapy. RFT provides conceptual and procedural guidance for enhancing the cognitive and language development capability (through its detailed treatment and analysis of derived relational responding and the transformation of function) of early intensive behavior intervention (EIBI) programs for young children with autism and related disorders.[4] Relational Frame Theory has become important in predicting the differences between standard cognitive therapy changes through thought change versus acceptance-based interventions like Acceptance and Commitment Therapy.[7]

The IRAP

The Implicit Relational Assessment Procedure (IRAP),[5] an implicit measure similar to the Implicit Association Test (IAT), with the key difference being that it measures specific relations between stimuli rather than general associations, has its theoretical basis in RFT.[8] The IRAP was developed by Dermot Barnes-Holmes.[9][10]

References

  1. ^ Blackledge, J.T. (2003). An Introduction to Relational Frame Theory: Basics and Applications. The Behavior Analyst Today, 3(4), 421–34 BAO
  2. ^ Louise McHugh & Phil Reed (2008) Using Relational Frame Theory to build grammar in children with Autistic Spectrum Conditions. Journal of Speech-Language Pathology and Applied Behavior Analysis BAO
  3. ^ a b Cullinan, V. & Vitale, A. (2008). The contribution of Relational Frame Theory to the development of interventions for impairments of language and cognition. Journal of Speech-Language Pathology and Applied Behavior Analysis, 2(4)–3(1), 122–35 BAO
  4. ^ a b Barnes-Holmes, Y.; Barnes-Holmes, D. & McHugh, L. (2004). Teaching Derived Relational Responding to Young Children. JEIBI, 1(1), 4–16 BAO
  5. ^ a b Dawson, D.L.; Barnes-Holmes, D.; Gresswell, D.M.; Hart, A.J. & Gore, N.J. (2009). Assessing the Implicit Beliefs of Sexual Offenders Using the Implicit Relational Assessment Procedure: A First Study. Sexual Abuse: A Journal of Research and Treatment, 21, pp. 57–75. DOI: 10.1177/1079063208326928 [1]
  6. ^ Hayes, S.C.; Barnes-Holmes, D. & Roche, B. (Eds.). (2001). Relational Frame Theory: A Post-Skinnerian account of human language and cognition. New York: Plenum Press. ISBN 0-306-46600-7
  7. ^ Michael P. Twohig, Maureen L. Whittal, Jared M. Cox & Raymond Gunter. (2010). An initial investigation into the processes of change in ACT, CT, and ERP for OCD. International Journal of Behavioral Consultation and Therapy, 6(1), 67–81 BAO
  8. ^ Barnes-Holmes, D.; Barnes-Holmes, Y.; Stewart, I.; Boles, S. (2010). A Sketch of the Implicit Relational Assessment Procedure (Irap) and the Relational Elaboration and Coherence (Rec) Model. The Psychological Record, 60, 527–542
  9. ^ NUI Maynooth
  10. ^ Barnes-Holmes, D.; Barnes-Holmes, Y.; Power, P.; Hayden, E.; Milne, R.; Stewart, I. (2006). Do you really know what you believe? Developing the Implicit Relational Assessment Procedure (IRAP) as a direct measure of implicit beliefs. The Irish Psychologist, 32, 169–77.

Further reading

  • Skinner, B.F. (1989). Review of Hull's Principles of Behavior. Journal of the Experimental Analysis of Behavior, 51, 287–90
  • Hayes, S.C.; Barnes-Holmes, D. & Roche, B. (Eds.). (2001). Relational Frame Theory: A Post-Skinnerian account of human language and cognition. New York: Plenum Press. ISBN 0-306-46600-7
  • Törneke, N. (2010). Learning RFT: An Introduction to Relational Frame Theory and Its Clinical Applications. Context Press. ISBN 1-572-24906-4
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