Deictic Relational Frames and Relational Triangulation: An Open Letter in Response to Kavanagh, Barnes-Holmes, and Barnes-Holmes (2020)

Abstract

Kavanagh et al. (2020) aimed to provide a comprehensive review of the perspective taking literature, including how the topic has been addressed by researchers of relational frame theory (RFT; Hayes et al., 2001). As a part of that effort, mention was made of the relational triangulation (RT) framework of RFT (Guinther, 2017, 2018), though the primary focus was appropriately on the deictic relational frame (DRF) framework of RFT (Barnes-Holmes et al., 2001), representing a larger body of established literature and the dominant RFT treatment of perspective taking. Unfortunately, the review’s brief summation of the RT framework and Guinther’s (2017, 2018) positions on the DRF framework were inaccurate, warranting correction in the present open letter. To begin, Kavanagh et al. (2020) conflated frameworks with methodologies when comparing the DRF and RT frameworks. Moreover, they misidentified the RT framework as being a mental rotation model, and they did not provide a rationale for reporting Guinther’s (2018) empirical findings differently than how they were reported in the source material. Finally, the addressed authors mischaracterized Guinther’s (2017, 2018) conclusions regarding the precision and utility of the DRF and RT frameworks.