15.56 Rule Following and Behavioral Rigidity

But rules can also make us less sensitive to or unaware of changes in the environment not contacted or described by the rules we are following¹. In other words, humans will often continue to follow a rule even if the rule is inaccurate, ineffective, or harmful. Rules can induce behavioral rigidity. Unfortunately, there are many rules that we construct ourselves or learn from others that are inaccurate or ineffective. Many of these rules, such as racial stereotypes or ineffective coping strategies, can also be harmful to ourselves or others. From the perspective of RFT, learning to identify and follow rules that accurately describe the consequences of behavior and lead to desired outcomes is key to psychological health and flexibility. In education, learning to do this is a key component of what we call critical thinking.