Acceptance: An Historical and Conceptual Review

Acceptance goes hand-and-hand with mindfulness and has been a core part of the major mindfulness-based therapies. The journal Imagination, Cognition, and Personality have recently published a comprehensive review of acceptance by Drs. John C. Williams and Steven Jay Lynn.

The 50-page (!) article traces the philosophical and religious roots of acceptance, tracing its inclusion in psychological theory from Freud to the present mindfulness and acceptance-based treatments. It also includes various measures of acceptance and related constructs. Overall, the article is quite expansive and comprehensive. I expect it will be widely cited for years to come.

For the full citation:

Williams, J.C., & Lynn, S.J. (2010-2011). Acceptance: An Historical and Conceptual Review. Imagination, Cognition, and Personality, 30(1), 5-56.