Therapeutic Manipulation: Objective, Illustrations, and Disputes
Let's Take a Gander at Aversion Therapy - The Controversial Method for Beating Habits
Aversion therapy, also known as "aversive conditioning" or "deterrent therapy," is a behavior modification technique that hooks up a naughty habit with some seriously unpleasant shit, in hopes of squashing said habit. It has been used to tackle all sorts of addictive behaviors, such as smoking, alcohol misuse, and gambling addiction, to name a few.
Here's a lowdown on this unconventional approach:
What's the Big Idea?Aversion therapy works by repeatedly linking an unwanted behavior or habit with a yucky sensation, thereby creating a revulsion towards the action. The goal is to discourage or eliminate the behavior entirely.
What Kind of Behaviors Can This Therapy Address?Some examples include:
- Finger-sucking
- Smoking
- Alcohol use disorder (AUD)
- Pathological gambling
Examples of Aversion Therapy
- Emetic counter conditioning (ECC) - This is a type of aversion therapy that can potentially curb alcohol cravings in folks with AUD. In ECC sessions, participants are given a medication to induce nausea and vomiting, followed by tasting and swallowing various boozy beverages. Over time, the person develops an aversion to alcohol because of the associated yuckiness.
- Graphic warning labels on cigarette packets - Warnings about the harmful effects of smoking, which are mandatory in 118 countries, fit the bill as a form of aversion therapy. They associate smoking with gruesome images of potential health consequences.
- Rapid smoking - Quickly puffing on a cigarette every few seconds can trigger some nasty sensations, making the act intolerable and potentially reducing nicotine dependence. However, a 2016 review suggests that rapid smoking isn't an effective long-term treatment for quitting smoking.
- Rubber band aversion therapy (RBAT) - Used to combat obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), RBAT involves wearing a rubber band around the wrist and snapping it whenever an obsessive thought pops up. The idea is that the pain from the rubber band will condition the person to associate obsessive thoughts with physical discomfort, ultimately reducing the frequency of obsessive thoughts. Surprise, surprise - a 2010 review concluded that RBAT isn't an effective therapy for OCD.
Does Aversion Therapy Really Work?Research hints that aversion therapy can diminish addictive behaviors on a temporary basis. For instance, a small 2017 study found that emetic counter conditioning (ECC) may be an effective short-term treatment for AUD. After 5 ECC sessions, participants reported alcohol aversion or avoidance at 30 and 90 days post-treatment, and 69% of participants were still sober after a year. Brain scans revealed marked reductions in craving-related brain activity. However, more research is needed to determine if these effects are long-lasting or not.
Why All the Controversy?Some mental health professionals have their reservations because aversion therapy involves meting out punishment as therapy. It has a long history of disputes, with one of the most prominent controversies being "conversion therapy" which aimed to alter someone's sexual orientation, considered a mental health disorder until 1973. Many people were compelled or chose to endure this therapy due to shame, guilt, or societal pressure. A 2022 review urges for the practice to be banned in all U.S. states.
The use of aversion therapy to treat addiction-related behaviors also faces criticism, as it potentially inflicts psychological or physical discomfort.
Frequently Asked Questions- The success rate of aversion therapy depends on the condition being treated. No concrete success rates are available, but a 2016 review indicates that aversion therapy doesn't seem to be an effective long-term solution for nicotine addiction or overeating.- Potential side effects include pain or discomfort, nausea and vomiting (in the case of ECC), fear or anxiety as one learns to anticipate the negative stimulus, and other contingencies based on the specific therapy.
The Bottom LineAversion therapy associates undesirable behaviors with unpleasant experiences to discourage those behaviors. Despite some promising short-term results, concerns about long-term effectiveness and ethical implications persist, so it is often recommended as part of a wider treatment plan that includes other therapies and medications.
- Aversion therapy, a behavior modification technique, aims to eliminate habits like alcohol use disorder, pathological gambling, and smoking by linking them with unpleasant sensations.
- Emetic counter conditioning (ECC), a type of aversion therapy, can potentially reduce alcohol cravings in people with AUD by inducing nausea and vomiting after consuming alcohol.
- Graphic warning labels on cigarette packets, mandatory in 118 countries, function as a form of aversion therapy, associating smoking with health-and-wellness consequences.
- Rapid smoking, where a person quickly puffs on a cigarette every few seconds, can induce nausea and reduce nicotine dependence, but may not be an effective long-term treatment for quitting smoking.
- Rubber band aversion therapy (RBAT) is a technique used to reduce obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) symptoms, but a 2010 review concluded that it isn't an effective therapy for OCD.
- Aversion therapy has faced controversy due to its use of punishment as therapy and its past association with conversion therapy, which aimed to alter someone's sexual orientation.
- While aversion therapy can temporarily diminish addictive behaviors, concerns about long-term effectiveness and ethical implications persist, with it often recommended as part of a wider treatment plan that includes other therapies and medications.
