What’s Relational Frame Theory?

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Relational frame theory (RFT) is a psychological theory that explains how humans infer relationships between objects. Psychologist Dr. Steven Hayes is generally credited with developing the relational frame theory, which seeks to expand upon BF Skinner’s theories of behaviorism. Most psychologists agree that BF Skinner’s work in behaviorism laid the scientific foundation for understanding learning and behavior in human and non-human organisms. Humans, however, have a cognitive learning tool that no other organism is believed to possess: language. Hayes’ relational frame theory seeks to explain the role of symbolic relationships in human communication and cognition, and how humans can infer the existence of certain relationships even when those specific relationships have not been explained.

Most psychologists agree that words and language are symbolic and abstract concepts. According to relational frame theory, words are typically chosen arbitrarily. When populations agree on the meaning of specific words, those words gain their meaning. The meanings of words and sounds are not considered intrinsic, but depend largely on how the listener infers that word’s relationship to an object.

Non-human organisms are often able to identify the relationships between words and the objects they refer to. For example, a dog can learn that the word “cookie” refers to a dog biscuit if the word “cookie” is said before a dog biscuit appears. When the dog hears the word biscuit, he generally thinks of a biscuit and may recall previous experiences in which he was rewarded with biscuits. If biscuits are normally given when the word “biscuit” is said, the dog may quickly expect a biscuit whenever he hears the word. Hearing the word “cookie” becomes a significant event in the dog’s life because he has learned that cookies usually appear when he hears this sound.

If the word “biscuit” was said only after the dog has already eaten the treat, however, the dog will most likely fail to understand the meaning of the word. Since the word is said after receiving the biscuit, the sound loses its meaning to the dog.

Humans, on the other hand, are believed to be the only organisms capable of inferring relationships using the imagination. Most humans are capable of two-way inference, which means that given some limited information, they are able to infer relationships that have not been specifically pointed out. For example, meeting a friend’s brother, one can automatically infer that both friend and brother share the same parents. Experience teaches that relationships between family members are generally always established in the same way. According to relational frame theory, humans not only learn from experience, but can apply those lessons to understanding new situations.

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