ACT
How many concepts are tied together to form the main shape that ACT is formed around?
6
True or False:
All avoidance is pathological/unhealthy.
False
While some avoidance can be adaptive, persistent avoidance that is costly, unhelpful, or life-distorting is considered pathological.
True or False
Experiential Acceptance is one of the points on the ACT hexaflex.
True
True or False:
It is important when practicing cognitive defusion to view thoughts as reality.
False
Thoughts = mental events, not reality.
How many squares are on a checkerboard?
64
What does ACT stand for?
Acceptance and Commitment Therapy
Define Experiential Avoidance.
Experiential Avoidance is the tendency to evade or suppress unwanted thoughts, feelings, or bodily sensations.
True or False:
Acceptance and Approval are the same thing.
False
Acceptance is acknowledging and embracing reality as it is, while approval is giving positive judgment or endorsement.
True or False:
ACT emphasizes practicing changing the content of unhelpful thoughts through cognitive defusion.
False
Cognitive defusion is the psychological technique used in ACT to change how thoughts function rather than what they say.
What is the only gemstone produced by a living creature?
pearl
What shape connects the concepts of ACT?
Name 2 types of experiential avoidance that were discussed in the presentation.
The four types discussed in the presentation were (only need to name 2):
Distraction
Suppression
Situational Withdrawal
Numbing
Explain the Difference between approval and acceptance.
Acceptance involves recognizing and embracing something or someone without necessarily agreeing with or endorsing it. It is a cognitive and emotional process that allows individuals to acknowledge reality, thoughts, feelings, or circumstances without resistance or denial, promoting emotional well-being and resilience. Acceptance is often neutral or passive and can occur even if one disapproves of the situation or behavior.
Approval, on the other hand, implies a positive evaluation, endorsement, or consent. It involves judging something as satisfactory or meeting certain standards and often conveys support or validation. Approval is more active and conditional, frequently dependent on external factors, and can influence self-esteem or social standing.
What is cognitive defusion?
Cognitive defusion is an Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) skill that helps you step back from thoughts and see them as passing mental events rather than literal truths.
Which NASA spacecraft launched on August 20, 1977, to explore the outer planets?
Voyager II
What concept is at the center of the ACT hexaflex that forms the goal of ACT?
Psychological Flexibility
Name 2 reasons that experiential avoidance backfires that were discussed in the presentation.
The three reasons discussed were (only need to name 2):
The Rebound Effect
Life Constriction
Loss of Vitality
How does ACT define experiential acceptance?
In Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), “experiential acceptance” means consciously accepting your inner experiences—thoughts, emotions, sensations, urges, memories, and images—without trying to control, avoid, or change them, while using them as information to guide valued action.
Name 2 benefits of practicing cognitive defusion.
Examples (only need to name 2):
Reduce emotional reactivity and impulsivity.
Lower believability of negative self-talk.
Break cycles of anxiety, depression, and rumination.
Increase psychological flexibility, a core ACT goal.
What scene from U.S. history is depicted on the back of the two‑dollar bill?
The signing of the Declaration of Independence
Name four of the points from the ACT Hexaflex that make up Psychological Flexibility.
Acceptance
Cognitive Defusion
Mindfulness/Being Present
Self and Context
Values
Committed Action
Daniel Wegner's 'white bear' experiments demonstrate what effect?
The Rebound Effect
Suppressing unwanted thoughts and feelings often causes them to return with greater frequency and intensity. Daniel Wegner's 'white bear' experiments, where people told not to think of a white bear thought of it constantly, are a classic demonstration of this ironic process.
What are the 4 A's of acceptance?
Acknowledge
Allow
Accommodate
Appreciate
Name one cognitive defusion technique.
Examples (only need to name one):
“I’m having the thought that…” — adds distance and reduces literalness.
Leaves on a stream — visualize thoughts floating away.
Silly voice — say the thought in a cartoon voice to weaken its impact.
Milk–Milk–Milk exercise — repeat a word until it becomes just sound.
Thanking the mind — acknowledge the thought without engaging
Which chemical do many insects produce as natural antifreeze?
Glycerol