Posted by pseudoname on June 17, 2006, at 11:45:08
In reply to Re: What I think of ACT » pedrito, posted by honeybee on June 6, 2006, at 8:25:53
Steve Hayes (ACT developer) on his Amazon plog and the ACT_for_the_Public Yahoo! forum said that the “transcendently conscious perspective” of ACT opens you up to “appreciate the consciousness of other human beings”. He said there are 3 or 4 studies showing this and further asserted:
> Go get on the ACT_for_the_Public list serve at Yahoo. Go watch how readers of this book treat each other (and themselves). A prediction: you will see what I am talking about.
I've got news for Hayes. Having read ALL of the posts over the months at that ACT forum, I think it's irrefutable that the threads of Babblers demonstrate more open, more “other-conscious”, and more demonstrably caring posts, and more posts supportive of people the writer disagrees with than the ACT forum will ever muster, AND Babblers are not from a unitary theoretical perspective!
Not from that far-out branch of psychology, yet we've got the caring thing down cold. Imagine.
This is part of what I mean about Hayes & Co thinking that they've invented the concept of humanity. The ACT forum certainly shows compassion for others, but it's far from unique in that regard and even lags in many respects behind groups like Babble. As this thread has discussed, it's probably better to be respectful but doctrinally free than to rigidly endorse any theory.
Hayes cannot see how stilted and conformist many of the posts and responses at the ACT forum are. Further, a couple of recent exchanges (like about the potential value of psych meds) have NOT been open or supportive, particularly on the part of the ACT enthusiasts.
Also, my gut still clenches whenever I think of some of Hayes's own demonstrations of “openness” and “acceptance” of people who were doubting his life-swallowing admonitions. I also remember the SILENCE of Hayes's professional devotees at those same demonstrations. It's pretty much impossible for me to square those attitudes with a transcendently conscious consciousness of the consciousness of other human beings.
poster:pseudoname
thread:492810
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/books/20051228/msgs/657991.html