Document Type
Article
Journal/Book Title/Conference
Journal of Contextual Behavioral Science
Publisher
Elsevier BV
Publication Date
2021
First Page
1
Last Page
34
Abstract
The practice of generating and interpreting stories can be examined through a behavioral lens and has many potential implications for clinical practice. However, storytelling has for the most part yet to be integrated into the field of contextual behavioral science (CBS). A bedrock of human culture, storytelling has influenced both individual behavior and intergroup cooperation for millennia. Basic principles of relational frame theory, such as those pertaining to coherence, perspective-taking, and the transformation of stimulus function, may help to reveal how stories derive their psychological impact. In turn, understanding storytelling from a CBS perspective can facilitate the broader integration of narrative methods into clinical interventions, which may help in expanding the reach and impact of individual, group, and self-help interventions. Suggestions for integrating storytelling into practice are provided as are future directions for studying the behavioral mechanisms of storytelling.
Recommended Citation
Davis, C.H., Gaudiano, B.A., McHugh, L. & Levin, M.E. (In Press). Integrating storytelling into the science and practice of contextual behavioral science. Journal of Contextual Behavioral Science.
