Aversion Therapy A treatment based on the principles

Aversion Therapy A treatment based on the principles of classical conditioning

Lets remind ourselves about classical conditioning Before conditioning Bell: Neutral stimulus (NS) Food: unconditioned stimulus (UCS) Salivation: unconditioned Response (UCR) During conditioning Pairing Bell: Neutral stimulus (NS) Food: unconditioned stimulus (UCS) Salivation: unconditioned Response (UCR) After conditioning Bell: Conditioned stimulus (CS) Salivation: Conditioned response (CR)

Aversion Therapy • Uses classical conditioning to get rid of addictions or unwanted behaviours. • Patient’s unwanted addiction is paired with a drug that makes them sick or electric shocks. • https: //www. youtube. com/watch? v=Lc 8 rtjx. G-e. I

Aversion Therapy (UCS) Emetic Drug Vomiting (UCR) (CS) Alcohol + (UCS) Emetic Drug Vomiting (UCR) (CS) Alcohol Vomiting (CR)

Aversion Therapy • Aversion therapy can be used with alcoholics. • Alcohol is paired with an emetic drug (a drug which causes nausea and vomiting). • Over time the alcoholic associates alcohol with being sick and does not want to drink alcohol anymore. • Other drinks such as soft drinks are given without the drug so that the person is not conditioned to feel sick to all drinks.

Aversion Therapy • Aversion therapy can be used with paedophiles. • Paedophiles can give themselves a selfadministered electric shock every time they look at a child or a picture of a child.

Research Evidence for Aversion Therapy • Meyer & Chessel (1970) Found that 50% of patients who experienced this treatment abstained from alcohol for a year. (Better than the no-treatment group).

Evaluation of Aversion Therapy

Evaluation of Aversion Therapy +Can help alcoholics when used alongside another treatment. -Effects may not be permanent – Association between alcohol and vomiting may fade over time if the person drinks alcohol without taking the emetic drug. • Ethical issues – Distressing, patient lacks control

Exam Question Arthur seeks help for his addiction. Describe one treatment for drug dependency. (3 marks) Evaluate the use of one treatment for drug dependency. (4 Marks)