reducing addiction behavioural interventions Flashcards
(6 cards)
How does aversion therapy work based on behaviourist/classical conditioning principles?
A noxious stimulus (UCS) is paired with an undesired behaviour (NS). The UCS causes an unpleasant response (UCR). Through association, the NS becomes a conditioned stimulus (CS) producing an unpleasant conditioned response (CR), leading to avoidance of the CS to stop the unpleasant feeling.
Using alcohol addiction, explain the classical conditioning components in aversion therapy.
Disulfiram = UCS, Alcohol use = NS (then CS), Vomiting = UCR and CR. The unpleasant vomiting response is conditioned to alcohol, reducing drinking.
What are the stages of covert sensitisation in aversion therapy?
1) Relaxation, 2) Imaginal exposure to addictive behaviour, 3) Imagined aversive consequences (illness, social loss, legal trouble), 4) Imagined positive alternatives to addiction.
What did Mutchler (2016) find about aversion therapy effectiveness?
Disulfiram reduced alcohol consumption more than anti-craving drugs, but placebo groups (thinking they took disulfiram) also reduced drinking equally, suggesting expectancy effects play a role, not just conditioning.
What is a key limitation of aversion therapy in explaining and treating addiction?
It only targets behaviour (based on behaviourism), ignoring cognitive, social, or biological causes. Without ongoing aversive stimuli or imagination, original addictive associations can return, leading to relapse.
What ethical/practical concerns exist with aversion therapy?
It causes actual harm (vomiting, liver damage), so clients must be highly motivated and willing. Covert sensitisation demands strong imagination and motivation, limiting its suitability.