Assaz, Daniel and Roche, Bryan and Kanter, Jonathan W. and Oshiro, Claudia K.B.
(2018)
Cognitive Defusion in Acceptance and Commitment Therapy:
What Are the Basic Processes of Change?
The Psychological record, 68.
pp. 405-418.
ISSN 0033-2933
Abstract
Acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT) is a
contextual–behavioral approach to psychotherapy and other
behavioral health concerns that has progressively attracted
attention from both researchers and clinicians. ACT’s psychological flexibility model relies on middle-level terms that, despite being less precise than behavioral principles, are seen as
being valuable for teaching and practicing ACT. One such
term is cognitive defusion, which refers to the reduction of
stimulus function transformation that occurs through verbal
relations. In other words, defusion aims to minimize the influence of verbal relations, such as thoughts, on behavior, when
doing so leads to adaptive behavior and valued living.
Recently, some authors have stressed the importance of functionally defining middle-level terms, establishing clear links
between the concept and basic behavioral processes. This article begins this endeavor by analyzing these links with respect to cognitive defusion. First, we briefly contextualize
ACT’s theoretical roots. Second, we present cognitive
defusion as a therapeutic intervention, reviewing its objectives, procedures, outcomes, and hypothesized processes as
stated in the relevant literature. Third, the outlined process of
change is critically examined, leading to a new conceptualization of cognitive defusion. Finally, the conceptual, clinical, and research implications of this new conceptualization are
considered
| Item Type: |
Article
|
| Keywords: |
acceptance and commitment therapy; cognitive
defusion; process of change; middle-level terms; relational
frame theory; |
| Academic Unit: |
Faculty of Science and Engineering > Psychology |
| Item ID: |
13094 |
| Identification Number: |
https://doi.org/10.1007/s40732-017-0254-z |
| Depositing User: |
Dr. Bryan Roche
|
| Date Deposited: |
23 Jun 2020 15:17 |
| Journal or Publication Title: |
The Psychological record |
| Publisher: |
Springer Verlag |
| Refereed: |
Yes |
| URI: |
|
| Use Licence: |
This item is available under a Creative Commons Attribution Non Commercial Share Alike Licence (CC BY-NC-SA). Details of this licence are available
here |
Repository Staff Only(login required)
 |
Item control page |
Downloads per month over past year
Origin of downloads
Altmetric
Altmetric