Steven C. Hayes
Encyclopedia
Steven C. Hayesis Nevada Foundation Professor at the Department of Psychology at the University of Nevada, Reno
. He is known for an analysis of human language and cognition (Relational Frame Theory
), and its application to various psychological difficulties (his work on Acceptance and Commitment Therapy
).
Hayes' work is somewhat controversial, and in 2006 was the subject of a lengthy story in Time magazine
, as well as related stories in the popular media around the world including Salon.com, the Brazilian news magazine Veja, the German magazine Emotion, Oprah's magazine O, and other such outlets. His popular book Get Out of Your Mind and Into Your Life, rose to #20 on the Amazon.com list of all books in early 2006, and became the #1 self-help book in the US for a month, for a time outselling "Harry Potter" on Amazon. What seems to be most controversial, at least in the popular media (as is shown by the title of the piece in Time: "Happiness Isn't Normal"), is his claim that pain is ubiquitous and dominantly linked to normal language processes rather than abnormality. This has in particular placed Acceptance and Commitment Therapy
somewhat at odds with mainstream Cognitive Behavior Therapy and empirical clinical psychology, despite the fact that Acceptance and Commitment Therapy is a form of behavioral and cognitive therapy. A number of similar methods have recently emerged in cognitive behavior therapy, however, including Dialectical Behavior Therapy and Mindfulness-based Cognitive Therapy
, suggesting that there is an ongoing struggle between traditional and new methods.
Hayes has been President of Division 25 of the American Psychological Association
, of the American Association of Applied and Preventive Psychology, the Association for Advancement of Behavior Therapy (now known as the Association for Behavioral and Cognitive Therapies
), and the Association for Contextual Behavioral Science. He was the first Secretary-Treasurer of the American Psychological Society (now known as the Association for Psychological Science
), which he helped form. An author of nearly 30 books and 400 articles, in 1992 he was listed by the Institute for Scientific Information as the 30th "highest impact" psychologist in the world during 1986-1990 based on the citation impact of his writings during that period.
He has been married three times and has four children.
University of Nevada, Reno
The University of Nevada, Reno , is a teaching and research university established in 1874 and located in Reno, Nevada, USA...
. He is known for an analysis of human language and cognition (Relational Frame Theory
Relational frame theory
Relational frame theory, or RFT, is a psychological theory of human language and cognition. It was developed largely through the efforts of Steven C...
), and its application to various psychological difficulties (his work on Acceptance and Commitment Therapy
Acceptance and Commitment Therapy
Acceptance and commitment therapy or ACT is a cognitive–behavioral model of psychotherapy. It is an empirically-based psychological intervention that uses acceptance and mindfulness strategies mixed in different ways with commitment and behavior-change strategies, to increase psychological...
).
Hayes' work is somewhat controversial, and in 2006 was the subject of a lengthy story in Time magazine
Time (magazine)
Time is an American news magazine. A European edition is published from London. Time Europe covers the Middle East, Africa and, since 2003, Latin America. An Asian edition is based in Hong Kong...
, as well as related stories in the popular media around the world including Salon.com, the Brazilian news magazine Veja, the German magazine Emotion, Oprah's magazine O, and other such outlets. His popular book Get Out of Your Mind and Into Your Life, rose to #20 on the Amazon.com list of all books in early 2006, and became the #1 self-help book in the US for a month, for a time outselling "Harry Potter" on Amazon. What seems to be most controversial, at least in the popular media (as is shown by the title of the piece in Time: "Happiness Isn't Normal"), is his claim that pain is ubiquitous and dominantly linked to normal language processes rather than abnormality. This has in particular placed Acceptance and Commitment Therapy
Acceptance and Commitment Therapy
Acceptance and commitment therapy or ACT is a cognitive–behavioral model of psychotherapy. It is an empirically-based psychological intervention that uses acceptance and mindfulness strategies mixed in different ways with commitment and behavior-change strategies, to increase psychological...
somewhat at odds with mainstream Cognitive Behavior Therapy and empirical clinical psychology, despite the fact that Acceptance and Commitment Therapy is a form of behavioral and cognitive therapy. A number of similar methods have recently emerged in cognitive behavior therapy, however, including Dialectical Behavior Therapy and Mindfulness-based Cognitive Therapy
Mindfulness-based Cognitive Therapy
Mindfulness-based cognitive therapy is psychological therapy which blends features of cognitive therapy with mindfulness techniques of Buddhism. MBCT involves accepting thoughts and feelings without judgement rather than trying to push them out of consciousness, with a goal of correcting...
, suggesting that there is an ongoing struggle between traditional and new methods.
Hayes has been President of Division 25 of the American Psychological Association
American Psychological Association
The American Psychological Association is the largest scientific and professional organization of psychologists in the United States. It is the world's largest association of psychologists with around 154,000 members including scientists, educators, clinicians, consultants and students. The APA...
, of the American Association of Applied and Preventive Psychology, the Association for Advancement of Behavior Therapy (now known as the Association for Behavioral and Cognitive Therapies
Association for Behavioral and Cognitive Therapies
The Association for Behavioral and Cognitive Therapies was founded in 1966. Its headquarters are in New York City and its membership includes researchers, psychologists, psychiatrists, physicians, social workers, nurses, and other mental-health practitioners, researchers, and students who...
), and the Association for Contextual Behavioral Science. He was the first Secretary-Treasurer of the American Psychological Society (now known as the Association for Psychological Science
Association for Psychological Science
The Association for Psychological Science , previously the American Psychological Society, is a non-profit international organization whose mission is to promote, protect, and advance the interests of scientifically oriented psychology in research, application, teaching, and the improvement of...
), which he helped form. An author of nearly 30 books and 400 articles, in 1992 he was listed by the Institute for Scientific Information as the 30th "highest impact" psychologist in the world during 1986-1990 based on the citation impact of his writings during that period.
He has been married three times and has four children.
Selected Works
- Hayes, S. C., Barnes-Holmes, D., & Roche, B. (Eds.). (2001). Relational Frame Theory: A Post-Skinnerian account of human language and cognition. New York: Plenum Press. ISBN 0-306-46600-7
External links
- Stevenchayes.com
- Steven C. Hayes, Ph.D. on the University of Nevada, Reno website
- Association for Contextual Behavioral Science website; Much of this work is available on the website for the Association for Contextual Behavioral Science which is a scientific society with about 2,800 members interested in Acceptance and Commitment Therapy and Relational Frame Theory