Cited by 131Categorization, perception, and languageBehavioral and Psychological StudiesMindfulness and Compassion Interventions

The trouble with language: Experiential avoidance, rules, and the nature of verbal events

Hayes, Steven C, Gifford, Elizabeth V.·1997·Psychological Science

Abstract

Experiential avoidance is the attempt to escape or avoid certain private experiences, such as particular feelings, memories, behavioral predispositions, or thoughts In this article, we discuss evidence that experiential avoidance is both pervasive and often harmful to human functioning We argue that experiential avoidance can be explained by two verbal processes, and we provide basic behavioral evidence on both the bidirectionality of derived stimulus relations in verbal humans and the insensitivity to the effects of responding produced by verbal rules If this analysis is correct, experiential avoidance is built into human language and thus can be undermined only with difficulty

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Crossref · 10.1111/j.1467-9280.1997.tb00405.x

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Authors
Hayes, S. C., & Gifford, E. V.
Affiliations
University of Nevada, Reno (US)
Venue
Psychological Science
Published
1997-05
Volume
8
Issue
3
Pages
170-173
ISSN
  • 0956-7976 (ISSN-L)
  • 1467-9280
OpenAlex
W2117656696
Cited by
131
References
33
Citations by year
2025: 4 · 2024: 2 · 2023: 6 · 2022: 6 · 2021: 3 · 2020: 13 · 2019: 5 · 2018: 2 · 2017: 5 · 2016: 6 · 2015: 5 · 2014: 8 · 2013: 4 · 2012: 7
FWCI
6.27
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
closed
Locations
Psychological Science (publishedVersion)
Topics
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Experimental and Cognitive Psychology › Categorization, perception, and language
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Developmental and Educational Psychology › Behavioral and Psychological Studies
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Mindfulness and Compassion Interventions
Keywords
experiential avoidance, verbal behavior, derived stimulus relations, private experience, escape behavior, language and behavior

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