Aversion Therapy-Definitions,Uses Of Aversion Therapy,Types Of Stimuli Used In Aversion Therapy,Electrical Shocks,Advantages Of Using Electrical Shocks

1. Aversion Therapy
Anu Mary Kalliath
Assistant Professor
Department of Psychology
St. Mary’s College, Thrissur

2. Psychotherapeutics, Anu Mary Kalliath, St.Mary’s College
AVERSION THERAPY - DEFINITIONS
Aversion therapy is a form of behavior therapy that uses the principles
of classical conditioning in which an aversive stimulus is paired with a
maladaptive behavior in order to reduce or eliminate that behavior.
Aversion therapy is a type of behavior therapy designed to make
patients to give up an undesirable habit by causing them to associate it
with an unpleasant effect.
Aversion therapy is a form of psychological treatment in which the
patient is exposed to a stimulus while simultaneously being subjected to
some form of discomfort
Aversion therapy is also known as conversion therapy or reparative
therapy.

3. Psychotherapeutics, Anu Mary Kalliath, St.Mary’s College
Uses Of Aversion Therapy
Used for treating:
1. Homosexuality
2. Sexually deviant children
3. Addictions e.g. Smoking, alcoholism
4. Bad Habits e.g. Nail biting
5. Cross dressing
6. Violent behavior
7. Anger problems
8. Weight loss

4. Psychotherapeutics, Anu Mary Kalliath, St.Mary’s College
Types Of Stimuli Used In Aversion Therapy
 Most Frequently used aversion stimuli are:
1. Electrical Shocks
2. Chemical Stimuli
3. Olfactory Or Gustatory Stimuli

5. Psychotherapeutics, Anu Mary Kalliath, St.Mary’s College
ELECTRICAL SHOCKS
 Widely used and most controversial form of aversion therapy.
 It involves administering an electrical shock via a device that is
attached to some part of the body.
 The individual receives a shock every time he or she engages in the
unwanted behavior.
 Used to treat addiction and other types of unwanted or unacceptable
behavior like homosexuality.

6. Psychotherapeutics, Anu Mary Kalliath, St.Mary’s College
Advantages Of Using Electrical Shocks
 Fewer potential adverse or unexpected side effects
 Therapist has complete control over the negative stimulus
 Less expensive than other types
 Ease of administration

7. Psychotherapeutics, Anu Mary Kalliath, St.Mary’s College
CHEMICAL STIMULI
A substance or medication that has a disgusting taste or causes highly
unpleasant side effects.
Used for alcohol addiction
Disulfiram is an example of a chemical stimulus.
Disulfiram disrupts the way alcohol is normally metabolized in the
body, causing side effects to occur within 10 minutes after taking a
drink.
Side effects may include nausea, vomiting, heart palpitations, intense
headache, flushing, shortness of breath, and dizziness.
Advantage - it can be quite effective for some individuals and types
of behavior.

8. Psychotherapeutics, Anu Mary Kalliath, St.Mary’s College
Disadvantages of Using Chemical Stimuli
 Greater potential for unexpected or serious negative side effects (e.g.
disulfiram can make some individuals very ill)
 Less therapist control over administration of the stimulus
 It can be quite expensive, particularly when it requires medical
supervision.

9. Psychotherapeutics, Anu Mary Kalliath, St.Mary’s College
OLFACTORY OR GUSTATORY STIMULI
The term olfactory pertains to the sense of smell.
Ammonia is the most frequently used olfactory stimuli.
These stimuli involves exposure to an intensely foul odor, each time
the person engages in or imagines doing the unwanted behavior.
Used in the treatment of homosexuality as well as children and
adolescents who were considered sexually deviant.
The term gustatory pertains to the sense of taste.
A bitter-tasting substance painted on the fingers of compulsive nail
biters to avoid the unwanted behavior.

10. Psychotherapeutics, Anu Mary Kalliath, St.Mary’s College
 It is also known as verbal aversion therapy.
 it relies on the individual’s imagination to produce the unpleasant
“covert” stimuli.
 An alcoholic using covert sensitization would vividly imagine a
highly disturbing or unpleasant consequence of drinking, such as
horrible nausea and vomiting.
 This thought may disturb the individual and he or she may stop the
behavior due to the fear of the later consequences.
 An individual struggling with overeating could vividly imagine the
desired food covered in something repulsive, such as live maggots
or cat urine.
COVERT SENSITIZATION

11. Psychotherapeutics, Anu Mary Kalliath, St.Mary’s College
 No actual consequences or suffering (e.g. the pain or discomfort of an
electrical shock or the negative side effects of a drug) are actually
experienced – they’re only imagined.
 By removing the actual consequences, the ethical issues and potential
physical and psychological risks are also eliminated.
 The client is in complete control of whatever he or she imagines.
Disadvantages
 if the imagined consequence isn’t intensely disturbing it won’t have
enough of an impact to be effective
 it can be used with individuals, whose motivation is high.
Advantages of Covert Sensitization

12. Psychotherapeutics, Anu Mary Kalliath, St.Mary’s College
 Have the client undergo a medical exam, in order to ensure that the
type of stimulus being used is safe for the client.
 Educating the client regarding how treatment works and what will take
place, so the client knows exactly what to expect.
 Have the client sign a consent form stating that he or she understands
the process and agrees to participate in aversion therapy.
Precautions Taken Before Aversion Therapy