Steven C. Hayes
Steven C. Hayes is an American clinical psychologist and researcher best known for originating Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), an evidence-based form of psychotherapy that emphasizes psychological flexibility by encouraging acceptance of private experiences while committing to actions aligned with personal values.[1] He developed Relational Frame Theory (RFT), a behavioral account of human language, cognition, and derived relational responding that underpins ACT and has influenced broader contextual behavioral science.[1] As Emeritus Professor of Psychology at the University of Nevada, Reno, where he served as Nevada Foundation Professor and directed clinical training, Hayes has trained dozens of Ph.D. students and founded the Association for Contextual Behavioral Science (ACBS), a global organization advancing functional contextual approaches to psychology.[2] Hayes' work extends to co-developing Process-Based Therapy (PBT), which integrates processes of change across therapeutic traditions based on empirical evidence rather than protocols, and Prosocial, a group intervention drawing on ACT principles to foster cooperation.[1] His research has generated substantial empirical support for ACT, with over 1,000 randomized controlled trials demonstrating its efficacy across conditions like anxiety, depression, chronic pain, and substance use, alongside more than 400 meta-analyses.[2] Hayes has authored or co-authored 47 books, including influential texts like Acceptance and Commitment Therapy: An Experiential Approach to Behavior Change, and nearly 700 peer-reviewed articles, earning him recognition as one of the highest-impact psychologists worldwide, with rankings placing him among the top scholars in citations and influence.[1][2] Among his notable recognitions are the Lifetime Achievement Award from the Association for Behavioral and Cognitive Therapies and the B.F. Skinner Award from the Society for the Advancement of Behavior Analysis, reflecting the applied and scientific impact of his contributions to understanding experiential avoidance and promoting value-consistent living over symptom suppression.[2] As president of the Institute for Better Health, a long-standing nonprofit, Hayes continues to disseminate these approaches through workshops, media, and public outreach, emphasizing idiographic (individualized) analysis in mental health interventions.[1]Early Life and Education
Childhood and Formative Influences
Steven C. Hayes grew up in Southern California during the post-World War II era, experiencing a childhood marked by family secrets tied to historical trauma.[3] His mother, whose maiden name was Ruth Esther Dreyer, was Jewish but concealed her heritage due to pressure from her father over concerns about "tainted blood."[3] Dozens of Hayes' aunts, uncles, and cousins perished in the Holocaust, including his Uncle Leo and family, who died when their ship, the Struma, was torpedoed in 1942.[3] At around age 8 in the mid-1950s, Hayes witnessed his mother's intense reaction to black-and-white television footage of Adolf Hitler, as she leapt from their pink-and-grey sofa, spat on the screen, and abruptly left the room—an event that highlighted her unspoken pain but remained incomprehensible to him at the time.[3] These concealed family dynamics contributed to a sense of unresolved loss in Hayes' early years, later providing context for his understanding of grief and societal wounds.[4] By high school, attending University High School affiliated with the University of San Diego, Hayes developed an interest in psychology, drawn to its potential to blend art, science, and the alleviation of human suffering.[5] The 1960s counterculture profoundly shaped Hayes' formative years, coinciding with his attendance at Loyola Marymount University, where he earned a B.A. in psychology in 1970.[1][5] Influenced by the hippie movement's heyday, he grew his hair to 12 inches long as a freshman, lived on a commune where he helped construct a house, and experimented with illegal substances—experiences that reflected the era's emphasis on personal exploration and communal living but later complicated his graduate school applications.[1][5] To avoid the Vietnam War draft, he briefly cut his hair to join Air Force ROTC, an act met with a standing ovation in the cafeteria, underscoring the cultural tensions of the time.[5] These influences fostered an early skepticism toward rigid authority and a focus on behavioral change, laying groundwork for his later psychological innovations.[1]Academic Training
Steven C. Hayes earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in psychology, cum laude, from Loyola Marymount University in Los Angeles, California, in 1970, with a minor in philosophy.[6] His undergraduate honors included designation as a California State Scholar.[6] Hayes pursued graduate training in clinical psychology at West Virginia University in Morgantown, West Virginia, where he completed a Master of Arts degree in 1974.[7] His master's thesis, titled "Environmentally Destructive Walking Patterns: An Applied Analysis," was supervised by John D. Cone, Ph.D.[6] He remained at West Virginia University for his doctoral studies, receiving a Ph.D. in clinical psychology in 1977 from an American Psychological Association-approved program.[7] [2] His dissertation, "The Effects of Monthly Feedback, Rebate Billing, and Consumer Directed Feedback on Residential Energy Consumption," also examined applied behavioral interventions and was chaired by John D. Cone, Ph.D.[6] [2] Following his doctorate, Hayes completed a clinical internship under David H. Barlow at the Brown University School of Medicine.[5] This training emphasized behavioral and cognitive approaches, influencing his early research on empirical clinical methods.[7]Professional Career
Early Career and Academic Appointments
Following receipt of his PhD in clinical psychology from West Virginia University in 1977, Hayes secured his initial academic position as an instructor in the Department of Psychology at the University of North Carolina at Greensboro in 1976, a role that transitioned into assistant professor from 1977 to 1982.[8][9] He was promoted to associate professor at the same institution, serving in that capacity from 1982 to 1986, during which period he contributed to the development of clinical training programs and generated foundational research on cognitive and behavioral methods in psychotherapy.[10][2] In 1986, Hayes relocated to the University of Nevada, Reno, accepting an appointment as full professor in the Department of Psychology and assuming the role of Director of Clinical Training, positions he held concurrently through the early 1990s.[11][2] Concurrent with these responsibilities, he directed the university's Psychology Clinic from 1986 onward and established the Behavioral Psychotherapy Laboratory in 1989, fostering empirical work in applied behavior analysis and contextual behavioral science.[2] These appointments marked the onset of his long-term affiliation with UNR, where he advanced from foundational clinical training oversight to leadership in behavioral programs.[7]Leadership Roles in Psychology Organizations
Steven C. Hayes has occupied several influential leadership roles in organizations advancing behavioral science, cognitive therapies, and contextual approaches within psychology. These positions reflect his contributions to integrating basic behavioral research with applied clinical practices.| Organization | Position | Term |
|---|---|---|
| American Psychological Association (APA) Division 25 (Experimental Analysis of Behavior) | President-Elect | 1985–1986[12] |
| American Psychological Association (APA) Division 25 (Experimental Analysis of Behavior) | President | 1986–1987[12][1] |
| American Psychological Association (APA) Division 25 (Experimental Analysis of Behavior) | Past-President | 1987–1988[12] |
| American Association of Applied and Preventive Psychology | Vice-President | 1993–1994[12] |
| American Association of Applied and Preventive Psychology | President | 1994–1996[12][1] |
| Association for Advancement of Behavior Therapy (predecessor to Association for Behavioral and Cognitive Therapies) | President-Elect | 1996–1997[12] |
| Association for Advancement of Behavior Therapy (predecessor to Association for Behavioral and Cognitive Therapies) | President | 1997–1998[12][1] |
| Association for Advancement of Behavior Therapy (predecessor to Association for Behavioral and Cognitive Therapies) | Past-President | 1998–1999[12] |
| Association for Contextual Behavioral Science | President-Elect | 2006–2007[12] |
| Association for Contextual Behavioral Science | President | 2007–2008[12][1] |
| Association for Contextual Behavioral Science | Past-President | 2008–2009[12] |
| World Congress of Cognitive and Behavioral Therapies | Chair | 2008–2010[12] |