Describe main components of aversion therapy (10)

• Classical conditioning

  • P: aversion therapy uses classical conditioning to create negative associations with unwanted behaviours

  • E: in this therapy, individuals are repeatedly exposed to an aversive stimulus (e.g. electric shock or emetic drug) while engaging in undesirable behaviour, like drinking alcohol

  • E: aversive stimulus is an unconditioned stimulus (UCS) that naturally causes discomfort or nausea (UCR). Through repeated pairings, previously neutral stimulus (alcohol) becomes a conditioned stimulus (CS) that elicits avoidance (CR)

  • L: creates a learned association between unwanted behaviour and negative consequences, discouraging behaviour in future
• Covert sensitisation

  • P: covert sensitisation is a variation of AT relying on imagination rather than real consequences

  • E: clients guided to vividly imagine distressing scenarios linked to unwanted behaviour, like vomiting in public after drinking

  • E: no physical aversive stimulus used, imagined scenes still create mental association between behaviour and unpleasant outcomes

  • L: engages similar classical conditioning processes, sometimes combined with systematic desensitisation by gradually worsening imagined scenes
• New developments

  • P: modern approaches to AT include pharmacological developments that both punish and reward

  • E: Badawy (1999) found tryotophan metabolites can make people feel sick when combined with alcohol, while promoting feelings of calmness during abstinence

  • E: drugs act as a dual intervention: provide unpleasant effects when alcohol is consumed but provide positive reinforcement when abstinence is maintained

  • L: refinement makes AT more appealing and effective, offers balanced behavioural conditioning experience
• Operant conditioning

  • P: operant conditioning plays a role in AT by reinforcing avoidance behaviours

  • E: once negative association made, individuals often avoid situations where behaviour might occur, like alcoholic avoiding bars

  • E: avoidance is negatively reinforced, helps person escape unpleasant consequences they associate with stimulus

  • L: means AT conditions through association + motivates future behaviour through reinforcement mechanisms