1.3.2 Main components of Aversion therapy

Question 1

Give an example of aversion therapy

Answer 1

• Patients are repeatedly presented with an aversive stimulus (electric shock, drug that causes nausea)
• At the same time the patients will be engaging with the undesriable behaviour
• Aversive stimuli = UCS. Response to this = UCR
• When aversive stimuli has been repeatedly paired with the undesirable behaviour pateint will no longer have urge to do undesriable bahviour as they associate it with the aversive stimuli

Question 2

What is aversion therapy commonly used to treat

Answer 2

Alchoholism, drug abuse, aggression and sexual peversions

Question 3

How did Badawy find away to modify aversion therapy so that it employs operant conditioning rather than classical conditioning

Answer 3

• Found drugs that would lead to feelings of nausia if alchohol is drank but pleasant feelings if alchohol is abstained.
• Offers an incentive to stop drinking (operant conditioning)

Question 4

What is covert sensitisation

Answer 4

• Delivering of the aversive stimuli by verbal suggestion rather than using physical stimuli

Question 5

Give an example of covert sensitisation

Answer 5

Alchohlics are required to imagine repulsive or frightening scenes while they are drinking