Relational networks
Printer-friendly versionSend by email
I am currently in an ACT graduate class and we recently went over relational frame theory. We learned that relational networks are enduring which led to some unanswered questions about memory and feelings. Specifically, how does RFT (and enduring relational networks) account for forgetting and feelings changing towards one individual (like love)?
Memory and feelings
The question is difficult to answer in a simple fashion due to it's breadth. Essentially you are asking, "How do emotions change?". Keep in mind that there is a very strong enviornment/emotion relationship. Thus, the best simple answer I can give is that emotions change over time due to (operant) learning.
My old professor (DIck Malott) trained us on the definition of forgetting. The definition was "Forget forgetting" (i.e., it doesn't exist). The lesson I always took from that was this: It isn't that you "forgot" it is either that you never "practiced/learned" it (fully) in the first place or the context does not support the response.
I am a Behavior Analyst...not an ACT therapist. Others may have a better answer but I am not sure what other options for an answer exist.
RFT-forgetting-emotions
I think the previous comment about the relations not having been learned in that context is the right one to address the issue of forgetting. It's not that something was "forgotten" it just was never learned adequately in that context.
You wonder why emotions would change toward an individual. From an RFT perspective, the individual is actually the individual seen in terms of their participation in relational framing. The current and situational context determines our current pattern of relational framing in regards to the stimulus of that person. To translate to more common language, our thoughts about the person change across time. This is usually apparent in terms of our changing content of our thoughts about the person (in RFT, determined by Crel). But some of the functions of what we call emotion are a result of Cfunc (some of the sensations or behavioral predispositions for example) which could also change over time.
There's lots more that could be said here and I'm sure could be said better by someone more skilled than I at RFT. It's been a while since I took those classes!
Jason Luoma
[[www.drluoma.com]]