Thinking, Problem-solving, and Pragmatic Verbal Analysis

Language Generativity, Response Generalization, and Derived Relational Responding

“…As such, ''things to eat'' is not in the same relationship with each of the items as the items are with each other and thus, this seems slightly more complex than a simple equivalence relation. In fact, RFT would suggest that appropriate responding requires derived hierarchical relational responding (see, e.g., Hayes, Gifford, Townsend, & Barnes-Holmes, 2001), which is a more complex form of derived relations than equivalence in which relational responding is under the control of cues such as ''category'' and ''type of.'' The same type of analysis applies to an earlier example quoted from Sundberg (2008a):…”

A Relational Frame Training Intervention to Raise Intelligence Quotients: A Pilot Study

“…The possible application of relational responding to intelligence has been outlined in previous theoretical accounts (e.g., D. Barnes-Holmes, Barnes-Holmes, Roche, Healy, et al, 2001;Hayes, Gifford, Townsend, & Barnes-Holmes, 2001; O'Toole, Barnes-Holmes, Murphy, O'Connor, & BarnesHolmes, 2009) but perhaps most thoroughly in an article by Cassidy, Roche, and O'Hora (2010), which details the variety of derived relations applicable to specific aspects of intellectual behavior. At this point, speculation about the precise relations involved are not as important as realizing the need for breadth and variety.…”

What is a problem? Theoretical conceptions and methodological approaches to the study of problem solving

“…In 'Relational Frame Theory,' Hayes and coworkers have described a number of different complex relational frames in accord with which humans sometimes respond, such as coordination (equivalence is one example), opposition, distinction, comparison, and hierarchical, temporal, and spatial relations . In their chapter on thinking and problem solving, Hayes, Gifford, Townsend, and Barnes-Holmes (2001) defined "thinking in a verbal sense" as "a reflective behavioral sequence, often private, or pragmatic verbal analysis that transforms the functions of the environment so as to lead to novel, productive acts" (p. 95), and "verbal problem solving" as "framing events relationally under the antecedent and consequential control of an apparent absence of effective actions" (p. 96). Hence, it seems clear that these proponents of relational frame theory recognize examples of problem solving that consist of "behavioral sequences" that can mediate "novel, productive acts".…”