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The present article discusses the concepts of having a goal and of goal-directed behavior from a behavior-analytic perspective. In clinical psychology as well as in the study of human behavior at large, goals delineate an important area of investigation when it comes to health, well-being, and behavioral change. While concepts like goals and goal-directed behavior may be more frequently used outside the theoretical boundaries of behavior analysis, we argue that by incorporating recent behavior analytic research on verbal behavior, new and fruitful ways open up for approaching the phenomenon of having a goal. A behavior-analytic approach thereby may increase both precision in understanding and the potential for influencing essential aspects of human behavior. This analysis starts with the concept of rule-governed behavior and develops that analysis by using the concept of derived relational responding.

O termo análise funcional tem uma posição extremamente central na análise do comportamento, desde que foi cunhada pela primeira vez por Skinner. Seu uso na parte clínica da análise do comportamento aplicada, ou no que se chama de psicoterapia, ainda é, de algum modo, controverso. Esse artigo argumenta que o termo e o fenômeno que ele descreve deveriam ocupar uma posição central também na psicoterapia. Para isso ocorrer, uma análise da linguagem humana deve ser incluída e a teoria das molduras relacionais (RFT) oferece esse tipo de análise. O artigo aplica as conclusões de tal análise ao diálogo clínico e fornece direções práticas sobre como a análise funcional clínica pode ser conduzida nesse contexto.

Abstract In most models of psychotherapy metaphor is considered an important aspect of communication. At the same time there is a need for a rational to tell the clinician with what purpose and how to use metaphor for the benefit of the client. The present article suggests such principles, specifically based on a behavioral approach to human language, relational frame theory (RFT). This approach has co-developed with a specific model of psychotherapy: acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT) and the conclusions in this article are very much in line with that model. Overlap between RFT and a recent linguistic theory of metaphor, the dynamic approach, is also discussed.