Will the Wing Fly Away from the Body? A Commentary on Steven Hayes’ Chapter, Contextual Behavioral Science

Under the leadership of Steven Hayes, Contextual Behavioral Science (CBS) became a vigorous field. Relational Frame Theory (RFT), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), and CBS in general brought huge advances to our understanding of human behavior. This commentary discusses to what extent CBS, as a “distinct wing of behavioral science,” continues (or should continue) to be part of behavior analysis. Focusing specially on RFT, with which I have more familiarity, I argue that RFT brought significant advances to behavior analysis and continues to be part of it, growing continually in acceptance and influence among behavior analysts. Admitting that the establishment of CBS as a distinct wing had many positive effects, mentioned in Hayes’ chapter, I believe that contextual behavioral scientists continue to have much to learn from mainstream behavior analysis (and also much to teach), so that there will be negative consequences for both sides if the distinct wing flies away from the body.