Evidence Quote by Steven C. Hayes
“ACT psychology is a psychology of the normal. A lot of the psychologies that are out there are built on the psychology of the abnormal. We have all these syndromal boxes that we can put people in and so forth. The actual evidence on syndromes is not very good. There's no specific biological marker for any of the things that you see talked about in the media. Even things like schizophrenia - there's no specific and sensitive biological markers for these things. There may be some abnormal processes involved, but vastly more of human suffering comes from normal processes that run away from us.”
About This Quote
Source Book: Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) by Steven C. Hayes, 1999
ACT emphasizes that most mental distress stems from ordinary, everyday experiences rather than rare abnormalities, and that focusing on normal processes can be more effective than labeling syndromes.
In simple terms: Most suffering comes from normal life patterns, not rare disorders.
Key Takeaway
Focus on everyday experiences instead of diagnostic labels.
Themes
mental health
normalcy
psychology
stigma
treatment
Mood
reflective
hopeful
analytical
Type
philosophical
practical
educational
When to use this quote
- therapy sessions
- self‑help work
- clinical training
- public health messaging
Key Concepts
ACT
contextual behavioral science
process orientation
Questions to Reflect On
- How can we balance normal‑process focus with recognizing genuine pathology?
- What strategies help people see everyday stress as a target for change?
A Different Perspective
ACT may overlook severe mental illness that does require medical intervention.
![“We have reached a situation where a theory has been accepted as fact by some, and possible contrary evidence is shunted aside. [This is] mythology rather than science.” quote by Robert Shapiro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/c31/robert-shapiro-26969_accepted_we-have-reached-a-situation-where-a-theo_19120.jpg)