Reference
RFT glossary
The terms that come up constantly in the RFT literature, defined plainly.
- Arbitrarily applicable relational responding (AARR)
- Responding to a relation between stimuli where the relation is set by social convention rather than by any physical property the stimuli share. The core skill RFT is an account of.
- Mutual entailment
- If A relates to B in a specified way, then B relates back to A in a way entailed by the first relation. Taught A is the same as B, a learner derives B is the same as A.
- Combinatorial entailment
- Two or more entailed relations combine to yield a further relation. Taught A to B and B to C, a learner derives the A to C relation.
- Transformation of stimulus function
- The psychological function of one stimulus in a relational network transfers to other members of the network without direct experience. The mechanism behind much generalisation, and behind indirectly acquired fear.
- Relational frame
- A learned pattern of relating that shows mutual entailment, combinatorial entailment, and transformation of function. Named by the relation it specifies, such as coordination or comparison.
- Derived relation
- A relation the learner responds to correctly without it having been directly trained. Deriving relations is the point of most relational training programs.
- Contextual cue
- A stimulus that signals which relation applies in a given situation. Words like "same", "opposite", and "before" function as contextual cues for their respective frames.
- Non-arbitrary relational responding
- Responding to a relation based on physical properties the stimuli actually have, such as choosing the physically larger of two objects. Usually trained before the arbitrary version.
- Stimulus equivalence
- The pattern in which trained relations yield reflexivity, symmetry, and transitivity. In RFT terms, a coordination frame. Historically the research programme RFT grew out of.
- Discrete trial training (DTT)
- A teaching format built from repeated, clearly bounded trials, each with an instruction, a response, and a consequence. The format most relational training lessons are delivered in.
- Probe trial
- A trial run without reinforcement to test whether a relation has been derived. Reinforcing a probe converts a test into further training and invalidates the data.
- Mastery criterion
- The performance standard that must be met before moving on, typically stated as accuracy across consecutive sessions. Probing before mastery produces uninterpretable results.
Common questions
- What does AARR stand for?
- Arbitrarily applicable relational responding: responding to relations set by social convention rather than by physical properties of the stimuli.
- What is the difference between mutual and combinatorial entailment?
- Mutual entailment involves two stimuli and runs the relation backwards. Combinatorial entailment involves three or more and combines relations to yield a new one.