ACT Assessment & Functional Analysis 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: In ACT functional analysis, what is the primary purpose of identifying 'away moves' versus 'toward moves'?
- To categorize behaviors as adaptive or maladaptive based on social norms
- To distinguish experiential avoidance behaviors from values-consistent actions (Correct answer)
- To measure frequency of behaviors on a daily checklist
- To determine which behaviors require cognitive restructuring
Correct answer: To distinguish experiential avoidance behaviors from values-consistent actions
Away moves are behaviors driven by experiential avoidance, while toward moves are values-consistent actions that advance meaningful life goals.
Question 2: A client scores high on the Acceptance and Action Questionnaire-II (AAQ-II). What does this indicate clinically?
- Strong psychological flexibility and healthy coping
- High levels of experiential avoidance and psychological inflexibility (Correct answer)
- Overuse of cognitive defusion strategies
- Excessive commitment to values without flexibility
Correct answer: High levels of experiential avoidance and psychological inflexibility
High AAQ-II scores indicate greater experiential avoidance and psychological inflexibility, which are associated with poorer mental health outcomes in ACT research.
Question 3: Which assessment approach is most consistent with ACT's functional contextual philosophy when evaluating a client's anxiety?
- Administering a DSM-5 structured diagnostic interview to assign a disorder label
- Identifying the function of anxiety-related behaviors in the client's specific context (Correct answer)
- Measuring physiological arousal levels to determine severity
- Comparing the client's symptoms to normative population data
Correct answer: Identifying the function of anxiety-related behaviors in the client's specific context
ACT's functional contextual approach examines the function and context of behaviors rather than their topography or diagnostic category.
Question 4: During a values clarification assessment, a client says they value 'being a good parent' but spends most time avoiding parenting responsibilities due to anxiety. This is best understood as:
- A values deficit requiring values education
- A discrepancy between stated values and committed action driven by avoidance (Correct answer)
- Evidence that the stated value is not authentic
- A cognitive distortion about parenting that needs restructuring
Correct answer: A discrepancy between stated values and committed action driven by avoidance
The gap between stated values and behavior is typically driven by experiential avoidance, which ACT directly targets through acceptance and commitment work.
Question 5: The Cognitive Fusion Questionnaire (CFQ) is used in ACT assessment primarily to measure:
- The accuracy of a client's automatic thoughts
- The degree to which a client is entangled with the literal content of thoughts (Correct answer)
- The frequency of intrusive thoughts per day
- The client's ability to identify cognitive distortions
Correct answer: The degree to which a client is entangled with the literal content of thoughts
The CFQ measures cognitive fusion — the extent to which thoughts dominate and control behavior rather than being observed as mental events.
Question 6: In ACT functional analysis, 'creative hopelessness' interventions are introduced when assessment reveals:
- The client has never tried any coping strategies
- The client's change agenda and control strategies have consistently failed to solve the problem (Correct answer)
- The client lacks motivation for treatment
- The client's values are unclear or absent
Correct answer: The client's change agenda and control strategies have consistently failed to solve the problem
Creative hopelessness is introduced when the client's history demonstrates that control-based strategies have been tried extensively but have not reduced suffering or improved life quality.
Question 7: Which of the following best describes the role of self-report measures in an ACT-informed functional assessment?
- They are used as the sole basis for treatment planning and diagnosis
- They supplement behavioral observation and functional interview data to inform case conceptualization (Correct answer)
- They replace functional analysis because they are more objective
- They are avoided because they encourage excessive self-monitoring
Correct answer: They supplement behavioral observation and functional interview data to inform case conceptualization
ACT-informed assessment uses self-report measures alongside clinical interviews and behavioral observation to build a comprehensive functional case conceptualization.
ACT Assessment & Functional Analysis 2
In ACT functional analysis, what is the primary purpose of identifying 'away moves' versus 'toward moves'?