Here, the authors examine whether Acceptance and Commitment Therapy and Acceptance and Commitment Training (ACT) are conceptually and ethically compatible with contemporary behavior analysis. The paper argues that ACT is fundamentally rooted in behavioral principles, particularly those derived from functional contextualism and Relational Frame Theory, and therefore represents a natural extension of applied behavior analysis rather than a departure from it. The authors contend that many concerns behavior analysts have historically raised about ACT—such as its use of metaphors, mindfulness, values, and private events—stem from misunderstandings about the role of verbal behavior and relational responding within modern behavioral science. Rather than treating thoughts and emotions as mentalistic causes, ACT conceptualizes them as behaviors occurring within relational networks that influence action through contextual functions.
The article further argues that behavior analysts increasingly work with verbally sophisticated individuals and socially complex goals that cannot always be adequately addressed through traditional contingency management alone. ACT is presented as a useful technology for addressing rule-governed behavior, psychological flexibility, experiential avoidance, and values-oriented action while remaining behavior analytic in its assumptions and methods. The authors distinguish ACT processes from cognitive restructuring approaches common in cognitive therapy, emphasizing that ACT focuses on altering the functional relationship between verbal events and overt behavior rather than changing the literal content of thoughts. Across the paper, the authors advocate for broader behavioral repertoires among practitioners and suggest that integrating ACT processes into ABA may improve assent-based practice, client dignity, and responsiveness to complex human suffering. The paper ultimately positions ACT as both usable and potentially important for the future evolution of behavior analysis, particularly in applied settings involving language, emotion, and long-term quality-of-life outcomes.
Dixon, M. R., Hayes, S. C., Stanley, C. R., Law, S. & Al-Nassar, T. (2020). Is Acceptance and Commitment Training or Therapy (ACT) a method that applied behavior analysts can and should use? The Psychological Record.