Creating a Strategy for Progress: A Contextual Behavioral Science Approach
No Thumbnail Available
Authors
Vilardaga, Roger
Hayes, Steven C.
Levin, Michael E.
Muto, Takashi
Issue Date
2009
Type
Citation
Language
Keywords
acceptance and commitment therapy , behavior analysis , contextual behavioral science , functional contextualism , radical behaviorism , relational frame theory
Alternative Title
Abstract
Behavior analysis is a field dedicated to the development and application of behavioral principles to the understanding and modification of the psychological actions of organisms. As such, behavior analysis was committed from the beginning to a comprehensive account of behavior, stretching from animal learning to complex human behavior. Despite that lofty goal, basic behavior analysis is having a generally harder time finding academic support, and applied behavior analysis hits narrowed its focus. In the present paper we argue that both of these trends relate to the challenge of human language and cognition, and that developments within clinical behavior analysis and the analysis of derived relational responding are providing a way forward. To take full advantage of these developments, however, we argue that behavior analysts need to articulate their unique approach to theory, to develop more flexible language systems for applied workers, and to expand their methodological flexibility. This approach, which we term contextual behavioral science, is meant as an evolutionary step that will allow behavior analysis to better capture the center of modern psychological concerns in both the basic and applied areas. Clinical behavior analysis is showing a way forward for behavior analysis to regain its vision as it comprehensive approach to behavior.
Description
Citation
Publisher
License
In Copyright
Journal
Volume
Issue
PubMed ID
DOI
ISSN
0738-6729