Acceptance and Commitment Therapy Inside Behavior Analysis

Abstract Acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT) is a widely adopted and well-supported contemporary approach to psychotherapy. However, the basic research and learning principles that ACT is based on originated in the science of behavior analysis; therefore, ACT remains linked to behavior analysis at the conceptual level. In recent years, a flurry of interest in ACT among applied behavior analytic practitioners has developed, and research on the application of ACT inside of behavior analysis has been flourishing as well. This chapter discusses the conceptual foundations for ACT inside behavior analysis, including a brief conceptual analysis of the six core ACT processes in terms of behavior analytic principles of learning and motivation. The chapter reviews research on ACT inside of behavior analysis, especially as it has been applied to individuals with autism, their caregivers and staff. Also discussed are the extent to which the research reviewed adheres to the defining characteristics of applied behavior analysis, as well as directions for the future research that could both enhance the precision of the ACT literature, as well as expand the scope of applied behavior analysis.