Journal of Contextual Behavioral Science (JCBS)
Volume 39, January 2026
Authors
Joseph Ciarrochi, Steven C. Hayes, Domonkos File, Kirk Warren Brown, Keong Yap, Madeleine I. Fraser, Cristobal Hernandez, Diana Hill, Louise Hayes, Clarissa W. Ong, & Baljinder Sahdra
Key Findings
- Nonattachment enhances well-being, reduces addictive patterns, and fosters prosocial action.
- The Extended Evolutionary Meta-Model (EEMM) provides a unified framework for understanding nonattachment.
- Mindfulness and self-compassion programs may need recalibration to address experiential attachment.
- Clarifying the interplay of nonattachment and avoidance is essential, as their overlap can intensify distress.
- Future research should design and evaluate nonattachment interventions across the levels and dimensions of the EEMM.
Abstract
Nonattachment has long been regarded as crucial for inner peace and spiritual growth, with traditions in Buddhism, Taoism, Christianity, Sikhism, and Islam emphasizing the release from ego-driven striving and excessive pursuit of pleasurable states. We propose a functional definition of nonattachment as a behavioral repertoire that involves noticing the pull of socially and culturally created rewards (e.g., praise, control, status, self-image) without automatically acting on them, and re-orienting attention to present circumstances and values-based action. Central to this stance is reducing the dominance of symbolic control, in which the pursuit of positive symbolic experiences disproportionately guides behavior and overrides sensitivity to other contingencies. In this review, we apply Relational Frame Theory and the Extended Evolutionary Meta-Model to organize and interpret the diverse findings related to nonattachment and its functions. Evidence links nonattachment to well-being, pain tolerance, openness, and prosociality, and points to intervention targets across biological, psychological, interpersonal, and cultural levels.