Honorary Doctor Steven C. Hayes

Dr. Hayes is an Emeritus Professor of Psychology at the University of Nevada, Reno, and currently serves as President of the Institute for Better Health, a charitable organization with a 45-year history dedicated to improving mental and behavioral health.

Dr. Hayes is a pioneer in developing Contextual Behavioral Science, which includes his foundational work in Functional Contextualism, Relational Frame Theory (RFT) as a framework for human cognition, and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT). His contributions also extend to fostering cooperative group dynamics through Prosocial, as well as creating the Psychological Flexibility Model, a framework for understanding human suffering and well-being. He has introduced innovative methods for analyzing behavioral change, such as idionomic analysis, and has redefined evidence-based intervention through Process-Based Therapy. His research further integrates evolutionary thinking into solving complex human challenges.

Dr. Hayes' work has been widely recognized, earning him prestigious honors including the Lifetime Achievement Award from the Association for Behavioral and Cognitive Therapies and the Impact of Science on Application Award from the Society for the Advancement of Behavior Analysis.

With an impressive body of work comprising 47 books and nearly 700 scientific articles, Dr. Hayes is one of the most highly cited psychologists globally, continuing to push the boundaries of psychological science.

We are honored to celebrate his achievements by conferring this honorary degree.

Honorary doctorate lecture, 30 January 2025

In honor of receiving an honorary doctorate, Steven C. Hayes gave a lecture hosted by the Department of Psychology, titled Because Every Voice Matters: Why Intervention Science Needs to Turn Toward Idionomic Analysis.