Module 2: The Double Edged Sword of Human Language

In this blog post for the ABAI, Dermot Barnes-Holmes writes eloquently on how our human languaging ability can create suffering. He also goes into the concept of ROEing, which is absent from earlier works on RFT, such as Learning RFT by Niklas Torneke.

Discussion Questions

  1. What showed up for you as you read this blog post?

  2. How do you see the concepts of Relating, Orienting, and Evoking in relation to other methods of behavior analysis such as the Antecedent—> Behavior—> Consequence Model?

Self-Practice

At various points throughout the day ask yourself this question: “Where is my attention oriented?”

Then think about what kinds of relating are going on, and notice what is being evoked in you in the moment.

This one simple change of tracking your own behavior can have astonishing effects on your behavior.

Process Self-Practice

  1. Was I able to check in with myself and ask where my attention was oriented at least once a day?

  2. Did I notice any changes or shifts in my thinking, attitude, behavior, actions, etc?

  3. Was I more conscious of my own actions as a result of doing this self-practice?

  4. (For clinicians) How often am I asking my clients to track where their attention is oriented?

Second StepJacob MartinezComment