Behavuoural Intervention

Question 1

Aversion therapy aim

Answer 1

Use principles of classical conditioning to change pleasurable association with addictive substance/behaviour replace it with unpleasant association in a vivo experience

Question 2

How it works for nicotine addiction

Answer 2

One technique used is Rpaid smoking will take puff of cigarette every 6 seconds

Will begin to feel nauseous and sick start to associate this with smoking

Repeated until individual develops aversion to smoking thus reducing there addiction

Question 3

How it works for gambling addiction

Answer 3

Electric shocks are used

Addicted gambler thinks of phrases that relate to his or her gambling behaviour and write them down on cards e.g ‘lottery’ or ‘casino’

Ppt asked to read out each card when they get gambling related phrase they are given a 2 second electric shock

Ppt should associate (classical conditioning) gambling with painful shock rather that pleasure and develop aversion to gambling reducing their addiction

Question 4

Covert sensation aim

Answer 4

Pleasurable association with addictive behaviour /substance is broken down and replaced with unpleasant association in vitro experience

Question 5

How it works for nicotine addiction

Answer 5

Client encouraged to relax

Therapist reads from scripts

Client imagines averse situation

E.g smoking cigarette followed by unpleasant consequences

E.g smoking cigarette covered in faeces

More vivid the scene the better it works

Question 6

What happens towards the end of covert sensitisation ?

Answer 6

Towards the end of session client imagines turning back in addiction and experience resulting feelings of relief

Ppts should then associate addiction with unpleasant scenario rather than pleasure reducing addiction

Question 7

Reducing addiction behavioural intervention Ao3 strength

Answer 7

McConaghy et al carried out research to support effectiveness of behavioural interventions at reducing gambling behaviour

Compared electric shock aversion therapy with covert sensitisation in treating gambling addictive addiction

Those received covert sensitisation significantly more likely to have reduced gambling activities

90 % covert sensitisation compared to 30 % aversion therapy

Shows imagination in covert sensitisation therapy can be more effective than aversion therapy

Thus increasing validity of behavioural interventions , specifically covert sensitisation as a way of reducing addiction

Question 8

Reducing addiction behavioural intervention Ao3 strength

Answer 8

Strength of covert sensitisation as a way of reducing addiction

Non invasive treatment

For example , if individual is pregnant covert sensitisation is unlikely to harm foetus, unlike aversion therapy as stress, pain or vomiting from mother during pregnancy

Can lead to negative and emotional effects on the baby

Thus covert sensitisation may be seen as a more appropriate way of reducing addiction compared to aversion therapy

Question 9

Reducing addiction behavioural intervention Ao3 limitation

Answer 9

Both covert sensitisation and aversion therapy in reducing addiction require motivation and commitment from patients

Patients must commit to attending sessions and work with therapist to unlearn addictive behaviour

Whilst placing themselves in aversive situations such as feeling sick or recruiting electrical shocks , unlike drug therapy which requires little motivation and commitment as only required to take tablet or wear nictoine patch to reduce addiction.

Due to this induvidual may drop out of behavioural intervention therapy

Thus reducing effectiveness as a method of reducing addiction.