Therapy Method with Opposition: Purpose, Instances, and Debate
Aversive behavior therapy, often referred to as "aversion therapy" or "deterrent therapy," is a tried-and-true method that aims to discourage unwanted behaviors by linking them with yucky experiences. People typically undergo it as a treatment for habits linked to addiction, such as smoking or alcohol issues, although it's less popular than other treatments for substance use disorders.
This therapy has a shady past and is quite contentious, as some mental health pros consider it ethically questionable due to its penchant for doling out punishments. In fact, an earlier form of aversion therapy, known as "conversion therapy," was once used to attempt changing someone's sexual orientation. Thankfully, that approach is largely obsolete these days, but it's still a topic of ongoing debate.
What's the purpose of aversion therapy?
The goal is simple: create an unpleasant association between the undesirable behavior and a nasty experience, thereby discouraging that behavior.
What types of behaviors can aversion therapy handle?
From nail biting to gambling, there's a range of habits aversion therapy might help with. For instance, it could help people deal with alcohol use disorder or quit smoking by triggering nausea or other unpleasant sensations when they partake in their vice of choice.
Examples of aversion therapy
Here are some examples of aversion therapy in action:
Emetic counter conditioning
In this form of aversion therapy, people with alcohol use disorder consume alcohol while taking a medication to induce nausea and vomiting. This way, they learn to associate drinking with feeling sick, making it a less appealing choice.
Graphic warning labels
You might be familiar with the graphic images on cigarette packets, picturing diseased lungs or cancerous tumors. These warning labels serve as a form of aversion therapy since they link the act of smoking with the risk of severe health problems.
Rapid smoking
In rapid smoking, people puff on a cigarette at a rapid pace to induce unpleasant sensations, helping them quit smoking in the process. While it can be effective in the short term, its long-term success has been debated.
Rubber band aversion therapy
For individuals struggling with obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), wearing a rubber band and snapping it against their wrist whenever they have an obsessive thought serves as a form of aversion therapy. The idea is that by repeatedly linking the discomfort of the snap with the obsessive thought, the person will gradually have fewer obsessive thoughts. However, research suggests this method isn't particularly effective for OCD.
Does aversion therapy actually work?
Research suggests that aversion therapy can reduce addictive behaviors in the short term, particularly when it comes to alcohol use disorder. For example, a small study showed that emetic counter conditioning reduced cravings and led to temporary abstinence in 69% of participants at the 12-month mark.
However, the long-term effectiveness of aversion therapy as a treatment for substance use disorders remains uncertain. The jury's still out on whether these results persist over time or are just temporary.
It's worth noting that while aversion therapy can be helpful in some cases, it's not always the best option. In many instances, other treatments, such as medications and other behavioral therapies, are more effective in treating substance use disorders long-term.
Controversy over aversion therapy
Aversion therapy is a contentious topic, as it involves administering unpleasant stimuli that can cause psychological distress or physical pain. Some mental health professionals believe it's ineffective and question its ethical use. For example, the practice of conversion therapy, which aimed to change a person's sexual orientation using aversion therapy, is now widely considered inappropriate and is banned in many places.
Nowadays, aversion therapy is mostly used in the treatment of substance use disorders, but the jury's still out on its ethical implications. Some mental health professionals disagree with its use due to concerns about causing psychological or physical discomfort.
Key takeaways:
- Aversion therapy is a behavioral approach used to treat substance use disorders by linking negative behaviors with unpleasant experiences.
- While it can be effective in the short-term for some individuals, its long-term effectiveness for substance use disorders remains uncertain.
- The use of aversion therapy is controversial, with ethical concerns about causing psychological or physical distress.
- Other treatments, such as medication and other behavioral therapies, are often more effective in treating substance use disorders long-term.
Aversion therapy seeks to create an unfavorable association between an undesirable behavior and an unpleasant experience, which may help manage a variety of habits, such as alcohol use disorder or smoking. This therapy can manifest in forms like emetic counter conditioning, graphic warning labels, rapid smoking, and rubber band aversion therapy for OCD. Although it can lessen addictive behaviors in the short term, particularly for alcohol use disorder, the long-term effectiveness of aversion therapy as a treatment for substance use disorders is unclear. However, it's worth emphasizing that other treatments, such as medications and other behavioral therapies, are often more effective for long-term substance use disorder management. The ethics of aversion therapy remain controversial, with mental health professionals raising concerns about causing psychological or physical distress, especially in relation to its past use in conversion therapy.
