Question

If a therapist gives an alcoholic a drink laced with a nausea-inducing drug so that illness is induced after drinking the alcohol, the therapist is using:

a) Aversion therapy
b) Systematic desensitization
c) Token economy
d) Psychoanalysis
e) Cognitive restructuring

Answer 1

A therapist administering a nausea-inducing drug after alcohol consumption is using aversion therapy, a technique of behavior modification based on classical conditioning.

Step-by-step explanation:

If a therapist gives an alcoholic a drink laced with a nausea-inducing drug so that illness is induced after drinking the alcohol, the therapist is using aversion therapy. This type of treatment is designed to create a negative physiological response to the addictive substance, in this case, alcohol, so that the patient begins to associate drinking with an uncomfortable or sick feeling. Aversion therapy uses the principles of classical conditioning to alter the individual's behavioral response to a substance. It is a form of behavior modification that differs significantly from treatments like systematic desensitization, which aims to reduce anxiety through gradual exposure to the feared stimulus, or cognitive restructuring, which involves changing negative thought patterns.

Answer 2

In the scenario given, the therapist is using aversion therapy, a behavioral treatment that associates an unpleasant stimulus with an undesirable behavior to condition a negative response to the behavior. Aversion therapy relies on classical conditioning principles to create powerful negative associations with alcohol to reduce or eliminate the desire for consumption. b) Systematic desensitization

Step-by-step explanation:

If a therapist gives an alcoholic a drink laced with a nausea-inducing drug so that illness is induced after drinking the alcohol, the therapist is using aversion therapy. This is a type of behavioral treatment where an undesirable behavior, like alcohol consumption, is paired with an unpleasant stimulus in order to condition a repulsion towards the behavior. The goal of aversion therapy is for the patient to develop a negative association with drinking that is so powerful, it decreases or eliminates the desire to consume alcohol.

Aversion therapy works on the principles of classical conditioning, where a conditioned stimulus (in this case, alcohol) that previously was neutral or pleasurable becomes associated with an unconditioned stimulus (the nausea-inducing drug) that elicits an unpleasant response (nausea). Over time, this association can become so strong that just the thought or smell of alcohol alone can trigger the negative response. It's worth noting that while aversion therapy can be effective, it is also controversial due to the deliberate induction of discomfort and its ethical implications.

Moreover, combining pharmacotherapy with other forms of therapy—such as cognitive-behavioral therapy—tends to be more effective than any one treatment alone. This multimodal approach can enhance the chances of long-term recovery by addressing not only the physical aspects of addiction but also the psychological patterns that contribute to substance dependence.