Aversion Therapy

• What is aversion therapy based on?

  Classical conditioning
• How does aversion therapy help an addict?

  It associates addiction with something unpleasant
• What drug is used in treating alcoholism through aversion therapy?

  Antabuse
• What happens when an addict takes Antabuse before drinking alcohol?

  They experience nausea and vomiting
• What is the unconditioned stimulus (UCS) in the aversion therapy for alcoholism?

  Antabuse
• What is the conditioned response (CR) in the aversion therapy for alcoholism?

  Nausea
• How does alcohol become a conditioned stimulus (CS) in aversion therapy?

  It is associated with Antabuse
• What is the outcome of alcohol being associated with vomiting in aversion therapy?

  Alcohol is no longer associated with pleasure
• How does aversion therapy treat gambling addiction?

  By associating gambling phrases with electric shocks
• What is the unconditioned stimulus (UCS) in the gambling aversion therapy?

  Electric shock
• What is the conditioned stimulus (CS) in the gambling aversion therapy?


  Gambling-related phrase
• What is the conditioned response (CR) in the gambling aversion therapy?

  Pain
• How does aversion therapy treat smoking addiction?

  By associating disgust with smoking
• What is a weakness of aversion therapy regarding treatment adherence?

  Addicts may abandon the therapy
• Why might aversion therapy be difficult to assess for effectiveness?

  It relies on negative aversive stimuli
• What did McConaghy et al. find about the long-term effectiveness of aversion therapy?

  It was no more effective than a placebo
• What is a strength of combining aversion therapy with CBT?

  It provides longer-lasting support
• What are the key components of aversion therapy for addiction treatment?

  • Based on classical conditioning
  • Associates addiction with unpleasant stimuli
  • Used for alcoholism, gambling, and smoking
  • Involves unconditioned and conditioned stimuli/responses
• What are the weaknesses of aversion therapy?

  • Treatment adherence issues
  • Short-term effectiveness
  • Difficult to assess effectiveness
• What are the strengths of aversion therapy?

  • Can be combined with CBT
  • Addresses immediate urges
  • Provides longer-term support for addiction