PSY8354 asks students to distinguish the basic concepts of verbal behavior, rule-governed behavior, language development, emergent responding and arbitrarily applicable derived relational responding.
It also covers relational frame theory (RFT) and evaluates Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) techniques.
Capella says it is for PhD in Behavior Analysis students only. The core challenge is carrying abstract theory across to clinical technique, and explaining why ACT methods follow from the conceptual account.
Course at a Glance
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| University | Capella University |
| Code and title | PSY8354 Relational Frame Theory and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy |
| Level | Doctoral (PhD in Behavior Analysis students only) |
| Credits | 5 |
| Prerequisite | None listed in the catalog |
| Typical work | Conceptual papers, research reviews, application analyses |
What PSY8354 Covers
| Catalog topic | What it means in practice |
|---|---|
| Verbal and rule-governed behavior | Explaining how language and rules influence behavior |
| Language development and emergent responding | Describing how new relations arise without direct training |
| Derived relational responding and RFT | Stating the theory's main claims and supporting research |
| ACT techniques for a range of human behaviors | Evaluating and applying methods to examples |
| Contributions of behavior analytic principles to ACT | Showing the conceptual link between the theory and the therapy |
Key Ideas to Get Straight
Derived Relations
RFT proposes that people learn to respond to relations between stimuli, and that such relations can be derived without being directly taught. When you explain this, use a small concrete example and state what was trained and what emerged.
Invented illustration: A person is taught that A is bigger than B and that B is bigger than C. Without further training, they respond that A is bigger than C and C is smaller than A. You label the trained relations, the derived relations and the principle involved, then say what research designs have tested this.
From Theory to Technique
For each ACT technique you discuss, state the process it aims to change and explain how RFT accounts for the process. This shows the connection the catalog asks you to analyze.
Evaluating Evidence
Separate conceptual argument from empirical support. Say which claims have strong research behind them and which are still being tested.
Typical Assignments and How to Approach Them
The catalog does not list the individual assessments. Typical tasks appear below; confirm in your course room.
| Assignment type | What it tests | How to approach it |
|---|---|---|
| Concept explanation | Precise understanding of RFT | Define, give an original example and cite sources |
| Research review | Evaluating evidence | Group studies by claim and judge strength |
| ACT technique analysis | Linking method to theory | Name the process targeted and the theoretical rationale |
| Application case | Using ACT for a behavior of concern | Describe the plan, rationale and how you would monitor change |
Theory-to-Technique Map
A two-column map makes the theory-to-practice link explicit and doubles as a revision tool.
| Theoretical idea | Related ACT focus |
|---|---|
| Derived relational responding | How language can shape the meaning of events |
| Rule-governed behavior | When rules help and when they limit flexibility |
| Verbal behavior about private events | How people relate to thoughts and feelings |
Complete the right-hand column using your course texts. The six core ACT processes named in your readings can be added as further rows.
A Second Worked Example: Explaining a Technique Without Jargon
Clear explanation is a marked skill. Practice describing a technique so that a colleague outside the field could follow it.
Invented illustration: "The exercise asks a fictional client to notice a distressing thought as a thought, rather than as a fact. According to the theory, changing how the person relates to the words can reduce their control over behavior, even when the thought remains. The plan would track whether the client's chosen activities increase over several weeks."
The paragraph states the technique, the theory behind it and a measure of change. Replace the details with your own example and cite the sources that support each claim.
Writing and Referencing
Papers in this course join two literatures, so cite both the conceptual sources on RFT and the clinical research on ACT, and say which claim each supports.
- Define each RFT term once with its source, then use it consistently.
- Give an original example for every definition rather than copying textbook ones.
- Separate what the theory proposes from what studies have tested.
- Describe techniques in plain language before using technical labels.
Read your draft once only to check that every technique mentioned is linked back to a concept, and every concept is linked forward to a use.
Where Students Get Stuck
- Abstract definitions. Always add an original example.
- Technique without theory. Explain why the method should work.
- Overclaiming. Distinguish well-supported findings from developing ones.
- Loose terminology. Use the field's terms consistently.
Study Tips for PSY8354
- Draw relational networks on paper until the derivations feel natural.
- Keep a glossary of RFT and ACT terms with examples.
- Write a plain-language explanation of each technique.
- Note which sources are empirical and which are conceptual.
How We Help with PSY8354
Send the prompt, rubric, readings and any draft. A writer with a behavior analysis background can review your explanations, prepare a custom analysis, or help you build a theory-to-technique map. See our psychology assignment help guide.
GradeEssays is independent of Capella University and offers study support only. Submit your own work under Capella's integrity policy. Orders are written from scratch, with free revisions within the scope of your original request and a full refund if late.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Capella lists it for PhD in Behavior Analysis students only.
Verbal and rule-governed behavior, language development, derived relational responding, relational frame theory and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy techniques.
None is listed in the 2025-2026 catalog.
Five.
How behavior analytic principles, including RFT, contribute to the development and practice of ACT.
No. We provide tutoring and model examples only.