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Steven C. Hayes

6 books

therapy

What they argue

Steven C. Hayes is a researcher and author who works in the fields of psychology, cognitive science, and behavioral therapy. He explores the mechanics of human cognition, specifically how humans construct meaning through relational framing and how experiential avoidance contributes to psychological distress and addictive behaviors.

  1. Experiential Avoidance

    This is the tendency to behave in ways that prevent us from feeling unpleasant internal experiences, such as thoughts, feelings, or sensations. It often leads to long-term harm because it reinforces the persistence of the very feelings it seeks to escape.

    From Acceptance & mindfulness treatments for children & adolescents (book)

    • Says much the same Russ Harris — The Trap of Experiential AvoidanceThis is the tendency to do or think whatever it takes to get away from uncomfortable internal feelings like anxiety, sadness, or fear. While avoidance may work in the…ACT made simple
    • Says much the same Guy Winch — The Trap of Protective AvoidanceAvoidance is often framed as a way to be 'nice' or to protect a partner from discomfort. However, this silence actually prevents progress and deprives the other person…Encore: Having Hard Conversations: How to Avoid Being Avoidant

  2. Relational Framing

    Human cognition is defined by the ability to derive meaning from the arbitrary relationships we construct between stimuli rather than from the inherent properties of the objects themselves. This allows humans to relate two stimuli that have never been paired together, such as understanding that 'A is not B' implies 'B is not A'.

    From Relational frame theory (book)

    • A related idea Marvin Minsky — Frame RepresentationIntelligence arises from the ability to manipulate and represent 'meanings' (semantics) rather than just syntactic rules. A 'Frame' is a data structure for representing…Semantic information processing
    • A related idea Christine A. Padesky — The Cognitive ModelThis framework posits that our feelings and behaviors are determined by our perceptions of events, not the events themselves. It consists of three components:…Clinician's Guide to CBT Using Mind over Mood, Second Edition

  3. The Acceptance and Commitment Framework

    This framework moves from Acceptance, which involves letting a feeling be there, to Commitment, which involves doing what matters. It is used to develop psychological flexibility so that individuals can experience feelings without acting on them.

    From Mindfulness and acceptance for addictive behaviors (book)

    • A related idea Howard Marks — The Second-Level Thinking FrameworkThis framework requires identifying the consensus of what everyone is saying or doing before determining the underlying reality. It is used to make major decisions in…#53 Howard Marks: Luck, Risk and Avoiding Losers

  4. Meaning-Making Machines

    Human beings are viewed as 'meaning-making' machines that constantly interpret internal sensations, like a racing heart or a feeling of sadness, and assign them labels. These interpretations can lead to psychological distress when we interpret internal states as threats.

    From Acceptance & mindfulness treatments for children & adolescents (book)

    • A related idea Don Miguel Ruiz — The Human MachineWe are born into a world where a collective 'dream' is created by society, parents, and media. This 'human machine' conditions us to accept labels and judgments as our…The Four Agreements
    • A related idea Matt Ridley — Biological MachinesHumans are not purely autonomous agents making rational choices, but are instead biological machines running on ancient software. Our identities and instincts are…Genome

  5. The Function of Experiential Avoidance in Addiction

    Addiction is a byproduct of experiential avoidance where individuals try to escape unpleasant feelings like anxiety, boredom, or physical tension. Recovery is found by developing the psychological flexibility to experience these cravings without acting on them.

    From Mindfulness and acceptance for addictive behaviors (book)

    • Says much the same Russ Harris — The Trap of Experiential AvoidanceThis is the tendency to do or think whatever it takes to get away from uncomfortable internal feelings like anxiety, sadness, or fear. While avoidance may work in the…ACT made simple
    • A related idea Judson Brewer — Reward-Based LearningAddiction operates on a fundamental mechanism of reward-based learning where the brain learns to associate triggers with rewards. This process can lead to a 'subjective…#179 — The Unquiet Mind

  6. Relational Frame Analysis (RFA)

    This is a diagnostic framework used to map out a person's relational associations to understand how their behavior is being framed. It helps identify the target behavior by analyzing the relationships between stimuli.

    From Relational frame theory (book)

  7. The ACT Hexaflex

    To build psychological flexibility, this framework suggests working on six interrelated processes, starting with Acceptance, which means opening up to the present moment instead of fighting a feeling.

    From Acceptance & mindfulness treatments for children & adolescents (book)

Every idea names the summary it came from. Written by a local model from this mind’s own work, never from memory.

Books 6

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