reducing addiction behavioural interventions

Question 1

How does aversion therapy work based on behaviourist/classical conditioning principles?

Answer 1

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.

Question 2

Using alcohol addiction, explain the classical conditioning components in aversion therapy.

Answer 2

Disulfiram = UCS, Alcohol use = NS (then CS), Vomiting = UCR and CR. The unpleasant vomiting response is conditioned to alcohol, reducing drinking.

Question 3

What are the stages of covert sensitisation in aversion therapy?

Answer 3

1) Relaxation, 2) Imaginal exposure to addictive behaviour, 3) Imagined aversive consequences (illness, social loss, legal trouble), 4) Imagined positive alternatives to addiction.

Question 4

What did Mutchler (2016) find about aversion therapy effectiveness?

Answer 4

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.

Question 5

What is a key limitation of aversion therapy in explaining and treating addiction?

Answer 5

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.

Question 6

What ethical/practical concerns exist with aversion therapy?

Answer 6

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.