ABSTRACT
Research outside of behavior analysis has established mindfulness-based interventions, including ACT, as evidence-based in the treatment of multiple forms of psychological and behavioral suffering. A central focus of all of these interventions is an increase in present-moment awareness and attentional control. Rule-governed behavior can produce insensitivity to changing contingencies in the environment that can diminish peoples’ ability to adapt their responding when valued reinforcement is no longer forthcoming. In this chapter, we provide an overview of the basic science underlying present-moment awareness in terms of intentionally narrowing and broadening stimulus control by engaging in attentional flexibility. We describe example intervention strategies and how to measure attentional flexibility as an outcome measure using a variety of established self-report measures and several direct behavioral measures that can be used with clients. Attentional training provides an independent intervention variable that can be embedded directly within behavioral programming, and there are antecedent and consequence-based strategies that can strengthen or augment the probability of mindful engagement for clients. We conclude by reviewing the processes of mindful attention as worthwhile processes that should be a part of ACT-based treatment.
