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How much do we know about the How much do we know about the

self in ACT?self in ACT?

MairMairééad Foody, Yvonne Barnes-Holmes, and Dermot ad Foody, Yvonne Barnes-Holmes, and Dermot Barnes-HolmesBarnes-Holmes

National University of Ireland, Maynooth.National University of Ireland, Maynooth.

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Self in ACTSelf in ACT

From an ACT perspective, ‘the self’ was initially coneptualised in terms From an ACT perspective, ‘the self’ was initially coneptualised in terms of the three selves (self as content, self as process and self as context), of the three selves (self as content, self as process and self as context), all believed to be natural by-products of verbal behaviour all believed to be natural by-products of verbal behaviour

Although the three selves were not technical terms (Hayes 1995), the Although the three selves were not technical terms (Hayes 1995), the self has played a central role in both ACT and RFT since their inception self has played a central role in both ACT and RFT since their inception

For example, Hayes (1995) proposed that “a significant role for therapy For example, Hayes (1995) proposed that “a significant role for therapy [is] . . to redefine who the client takes himself or herself to be”[is] . . to redefine who the client takes himself or herself to be”

Similarly, the perspective-taking or deictic relations (I-YOU, HERE-Similarly, the perspective-taking or deictic relations (I-YOU, HERE-THERE and NOW-THEN) have received considerable empirical THERE and NOW-THEN) have received considerable empirical attention in RFT research (e.g. McHugh, Barnes-Holmes, & Barnes-attention in RFT research (e.g. McHugh, Barnes-Holmes, & Barnes-Holmes, 2004) Holmes, 2004)

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The three selves as The three selves as perspective-taking relationsperspective-taking relations

For RFT, there are two constant aspects to the self:For RFT, there are two constant aspects to the self:

- - the observerthe observer - your perspective (- your perspective (alwaysalways located HERE-NOW) located HERE-NOW)

ANDAND

- - the doerthe doer - - youryour logical content (may be located HERE-NOW logical content (may be located HERE-NOW or or THERE-THERE-THEN) depending on which of the three selves you are operating inTHEN) depending on which of the three selves you are operating in

Hayes (1995) referred to these as the dual functions of self in terms of Hayes (1995) referred to these as the dual functions of self in terms of “functioning both as a doer and as an observer of the doing”“functioning both as a doer and as an observer of the doing”

In short, there is no change in your perspective (In short, there is no change in your perspective (observer),observer), just changes in just changes in the location of your content the location of your content (doer)(doer)

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The three selves as The three selves as perspective-taking relationsperspective-taking relations

Perspective (Self)HERE-NOW

HERE-NOW

HERE-NOW

THERE-THEN

PsychologicalContent

Content is rigid and attached to perspective

Content is on-going and

experiential (would be attached if was not)

Self as Content

Self as Process

Self as Context

Perspective remains stable and constant

You can switch between self as content and self as process readily because the content is always HERE-NOW.

You can switich between self as process and self as context, but this will involve You can switich between self as process and self as context, but this will involve switching content from HERE-NOW to THERE-THEN. We do not do this readily- it switching content from HERE-NOW to THERE-THEN. We do not do this readily- it takes training!takes training!

You cannot switch between self as content and self as context without first engaging You cannot switch between self as content and self as context without first engaging in self as processin self as processIn this way, self as process mediates all changes in the location of your contentIn this way, self as process mediates all changes in the location of your contentTraining in self as process is needed for maximum psychological flexibilityTraining in self as process is needed for maximum psychological flexibility

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Involves describing and/or evaluating oneself (i.e. creating verbal Involves describing and/or evaluating oneself (i.e. creating verbal statements about the self and evaluating these statements) statements about the self and evaluating these statements)

In this mode, your individual world is structured by the literal In this mode, your individual world is structured by the literal meaning of your psychological content, such that who you are is meaning of your psychological content, such that who you are is interpreted in terms of what your mind tells you at various timesinterpreted in terms of what your mind tells you at various times

These co-ordination relations (between content and These co-ordination relations (between content and YOU/self/observer as both HERE-NOW) is often referred to as YOU/self/observer as both HERE-NOW) is often referred to as attachment,attachment, because the piece of content in question is attached to because the piece of content in question is attached to YOU as a human beingYOU as a human being

Attached content automatically becomes part of the conceptualised Attached content automatically becomes part of the conceptualised self because of this co-ordination (the functions of the content are self because of this co-ordination (the functions of the content are transferred to the perspective)transferred to the perspective)

Self as Content in RFT termsSelf as Content in RFT terms

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Self as Content in RFT termsSelf as Content in RFT terms

This level of This level of cognitive fusioncognitive fusion makes it very likely that your content will makes it very likely that your content will exert some control over your behaviour, because the perspective and exert some control over your behaviour, because the perspective and the content exist in relational networks with many other types of the content exist in relational networks with many other types of content, actions, etc.content, actions, etc.

The alternative to this fusion or rigidity (and the threat it poses to The alternative to this fusion or rigidity (and the threat it poses to perspective) is to keep your content as on-going and experiential (i.e. perspective) is to keep your content as on-going and experiential (i.e. self as process)self as process)

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Self as Process in RFT termsSelf as Process in RFT terms

Self as process involves on-going experiencing and describing Self as process involves on-going experiencing and describing of your thoughts, behaviour, etc.of your thoughts, behaviour, etc.

This sense of self increases psychological flexibility because This sense of self increases psychological flexibility because your on-going experience is ever-changing, thus providing you your on-going experience is ever-changing, thus providing you with a broad array of behavioural optionswith a broad array of behavioural options

When thoughts are experienced as rigid or attached (instead of When thoughts are experienced as rigid or attached (instead of on-going and experiential) then self as process can quickly on-going and experiential) then self as process can quickly change to self as contentchange to self as content

The risk of this is considerable and ever-present because of the The risk of this is considerable and ever-present because of the need for coherence in the conceptualised self need for coherence in the conceptualised self

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Self as Context in RFT termsSelf as Context in RFT terms

Operating in self as context involves detachment (Operating in self as context involves detachment (defusiondefusion) from your ) from your psychological content (evaluations, etc.)psychological content (evaluations, etc.)

Hayes (1995) similarly argued that: “Hayes (1995) similarly argued that: “II in some meaningful sense is the location in some meaningful sense is the location that is left behind when all of the content differences are subtracted out”that is left behind when all of the content differences are subtracted out”

In self as context all that is left in HERE-NOW is IIn self as context all that is left in HERE-NOW is I

Just as our developmental histories require (for communicative and social Just as our developmental histories require (for communicative and social purposes) that our content is HERE-NOW in terms of both self as content and purposes) that our content is HERE-NOW in terms of both self as content and self as process, it is equally important that we acquire the skill of switching self as process, it is equally important that we acquire the skill of switching content from HERE-NOW to THERE-THEN (Blackledge & Barnes-Holmes, content from HERE-NOW to THERE-THEN (Blackledge & Barnes-Holmes, 2009)2009)

Self as context is unique in terms of the content being located THERE-THEN Self as context is unique in terms of the content being located THERE-THEN and this, in turn, provides a more stable perspective of I-HERE-NOWand this, in turn, provides a more stable perspective of I-HERE-NOW

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Some say self as context Some say self as context is transcendence!is transcendence!

Some say self as context is the same as transcendence and this is an Some say self as context is the same as transcendence and this is an important questionimportant question

In short, we think it isn’t in the sense that this is still relational and verbal In short, we think it isn’t in the sense that this is still relational and verbal behaviour, although we can see where this apparent co-ordination comes behaviour, although we can see where this apparent co-ordination comes fromfrom

Put another way, one might ask: “What happens to the perspective in Put another way, one might ask: “What happens to the perspective in HERE-NOW when all content is THERE-THEN?”HERE-NOW when all content is THERE-THEN?”

Barnes-Holmes, Hayes and Gregg (2001) answered this as follows: Barnes-Holmes, Hayes and Gregg (2001) answered this as follows:

““spirituality is an experience of “transcendence” or “oneness” that comes spirituality is an experience of “transcendence” or “oneness” that comes when literal, analytic, and evaluative functions of relational framing are when literal, analytic, and evaluative functions of relational framing are massively reduced, and the relational functions of I, HERE, and NOW massively reduced, and the relational functions of I, HERE, and NOW are thereby allowed to predominate”are thereby allowed to predominate”

So, what might that look like?So, what might that look like?

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Scenario 1: Scenario 1: The painter as observer and doerThe painter as observer and doer

The painter’s focus (the canvas) is The painter’s focus (the canvas) is in addition to in addition to her as the observerher as the observer

For her, the focus on the canvas For her, the focus on the canvas feels feels almost automatic and indeed she is focusing almost automatic and indeed she is focusing on only this and not on herselfon only this and not on herself

However, the painter is always observing at the same timeHowever, the painter is always observing at the same time

So, even in this example of all-consuming focus, there is always the observer So, even in this example of all-consuming focus, there is always the observer andand the doerthe doer

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Scenario 2: Scenario 2: The Vipassana MeditatorThe Vipassana Meditator as observer and doer as observer and doer

The meditator is focusing entirely on himself (not an external object like a canvas)The meditator is focusing entirely on himself (not an external object like a canvas)

He can do this with automaticity because of many years of trainingHe can do this with automaticity because of many years of training

For brief periods of time, he reaches a place of almost no contentFor brief periods of time, he reaches a place of almost no content

In this scenario it would In this scenario it would feel like feel like the observer and the doer had collapsed into one, the observer and the doer had collapsed into one, because there is little doing (i.e. no transformations of stimulus functions either because there is little doing (i.e. no transformations of stimulus functions either HERE-NOW or THERE-THEN) and all observingHERE-NOW or THERE-THEN) and all observing

So, there is nothing else in the HERE-NOW, except I on an on-going basisSo, there is nothing else in the HERE-NOW, except I on an on-going basis

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This type of behaviour is still verbal because you are still This type of behaviour is still verbal because you are still operating from the perspective-taking framesoperating from the perspective-taking frames

For most of us most of the time, accessing self as context to this For most of us most of the time, accessing self as context to this extent and in this depth is nearly impossibleextent and in this depth is nearly impossible

Because getting there and staying there would both pose great Because getting there and staying there would both pose great challenges to a highly verbal organismchallenges to a highly verbal organism

Still verbal behaviour!Still verbal behaviour!

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The relationship betweenThe relationship betweendefusion and self as contextdefusion and self as context

It is reasonable within this account to ask whether defusion is It is reasonable within this account to ask whether defusion is only possible when operating in self as context?only possible when operating in self as context?

When your psychological content is THERE-THEN (as in self as When your psychological content is THERE-THEN (as in self as context) it would appear that this is defusion because context) it would appear that this is defusion because relationally your content is distinct from I (the term relationally your content is distinct from I (the term ‘de-fusion’ ‘de-fusion’ supports this)supports this)

But do we want to take such a narrow definition of defusion in But do we want to take such a narrow definition of defusion in which your content which your content must be must be THERE-THERN – if so, defusion is THERE-THERN – if so, defusion is only possible in self as contextonly possible in self as context

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What about self as process? What about self as process?

If you areIf you are not not fused fused in self as process (that would be self as in self as process (that would be self as content), are you then content), are you then defuseddefused??

For this to be the case, defusion must be defined more broadly as a For this to be the case, defusion must be defined more broadly as a massive reduction in the transformations of function regarding your massive reduction in the transformations of function regarding your content (but the content is not necessarily THERE-THEN)content (but the content is not necessarily THERE-THEN)

In this case, we would argue that self as process facilitates defusion In this case, we would argue that self as process facilitates defusion because it is on-going and experiential because it is on-going and experiential

So, operating a broader definition of defusion in terms of the So, operating a broader definition of defusion in terms of the reductions in transformations of functions (with content THERE-reductions in transformations of functions (with content THERE-THEN or on-going in HERE-NOW) allows for defusion at both self THEN or on-going in HERE-NOW) allows for defusion at both self as process and self as contextas process and self as context

The relationship betweenThe relationship betweendefusion and self as processdefusion and self as process

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The three selves and three levels of defusion

Perspective (Self)HERE-NOW

HERE-NOW

HERE-NOW

THERE-THEN

PsychologicalContent

Content is rigid and attached to perspective

Content is on-going and

experiential (would be attached if was

not)

Self as Content

Self as Process

Self as Context

Perspective remains stable and constant

Fusion

Defusion I

Defusion II

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Concluding CommentsConcluding Comments

This account is not new, but simply reiterates what was said in original ACT This account is not new, but simply reiterates what was said in original ACT writings on the three selveswritings on the three selves

We believe that these continue to constitute a functional RFT account of self that We believe that these continue to constitute a functional RFT account of self that has significant implications for our conceptual and technical understanding of has significant implications for our conceptual and technical understanding of ACT ACT

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Contact: Contact: Mairead.foody@nuim.ie