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Behaviour Therapies> Operant-Based Behaviour Therapy - Aversion Therapy

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Topics

Estimated time: 13 minutes
  • Meaning
  • Principle
  • Technique/Procedure
  • Applications of Aversion Therapy
  • Criticisms and Limitations
  • Key Points: Aversion Therapy
CISCE: Class 12

Meaning

  • Aversion therapy reduces or removes an undesirable behaviour by pairing it with a painful or unpleasant stimulus.
  • The person learns to avoid the behaviour to escape the unpleasant experience.
CISCE: Class 12

Principle

  • An unwanted behaviour is immediately followed by an aversive stimulus, such as a shock, a bitter taste, or a nausea-inducing drug.
  • With repeated pairings, the behaviour becomes linked to discomfort and gradually decreases.
CISCE: Class 12

Technique/Procedure

  • The therapist identifies the specific undesirable behaviour to be changed.
  • A suitable aversive stimulus is chosen (e.g., electric shock, a nausea-inducing drug, or a bitter substance).
  • Whenever the person shows the target behaviour, the aversive stimulus is given.
  • After several sessions, the behaviour is reduced or eliminated because it always leads to an unpleasant outcome.
CISCE: Class 12

Applications of Aversion Therapy

(a) Chronic alcoholism

  • Alcohol is paired with drugs like emetine or tetraethyl thiuram disulfide that cause nausea, vomiting, headache, or breathing difficulty.
  • Because alcohol intake repeatedly leads to these symptoms, the person may stop drinking.

(b) Gambling

  • A man addicted to gambling for 12 years was given electric shocks when he engaged in gambling-related behaviour.
  • After treatment, he did not gamble for 18 months.

(c) Persistent breastfeeding/sucking

  • Quinine, a bitter substance, is applied to the mother’s breast so the child experiences an unpleasant taste while sucking.
  • After a few trials, the child gives up sucking.

(d) Homosexuality and other fears

  • The aversion conditioning has been used for homosexuality.
  • It is also used for air phobia, sea phobia, and other irrational fears, which can be treated similarly.
CISCE: Class 12

Criticisms and Limitations

  • The cure obtained through aversion therapy may not be permanent.
  • If the aversive stimulus is not given continuously, the behaviour can return.
  • Outside controlled settings, the person may again drink or gamble because the aversive stimulus is absent.
CISCE: Class 12

Key Points: Aversion Therapy

  • Aversion therapy reduces unwanted behaviour by linking it with an unpleasant stimulus.
  • It works by making the person associate the behaviour with discomfort.
  • Common stimuli include electric shock, bitter taste, or nausea-inducing drugs.
  • It is used for alcoholism, gambling, certain child habits, and some phobias.
  • The effect may not be permanent, and behaviour can return later.

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