Acceptance and commitment therapy examples in Disney Pixar’s Luca: A media review.

Abstract

Behavior analysts are increasingly using acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT) as an intervention package in their practice to change socially significant overt behaviors. One children’s movie, Disney Pixar’s Luca, contains an abundance of ACT hexaflex examples throughout the duration of the film. The ACT examples in this movie are well illustrated and thus could be used by practitioners as video examples when working with children and families, as well as when teaching aspiring behavior analysts about ACT. This discussion includes a descriptive analysis of the Luca movie from start to finish, highlighting specific ACT examples and nonexamples demonstrated in the movie. In addition, an accompanying table includes specific time-stamped examples and nonexamples of ACT skills. Lastly, the implications of ACT strategies being used in the media are reviewed. Ultimately, the success of Luca may provide behavior analysts with a model for the dissemination of behavior analytic technology that allows for embedment in cultural practices.