A client being treated for alcohol abuse receives just enough of a drug called curare to produce temporary paralysis as that client takes a swig of beer. Presumably, sufficient pairings of paralysis and alcohol will reduce the client’s desire for alcohol. This procedure is called: 1) covert sensitization. 2) contingency training. 3) relapse-prevention training. 4) aversion therapy.
The correct answer and explanation is:
The correct answer is 4) aversion therapy.
Aversion therapy is a behavioral treatment that pairs an undesirable behavior, like drinking alcohol, with an unpleasant stimulus to reduce or eliminate that behavior. In the scenario described, the client receives just enough curare to induce temporary paralysis whenever they drink alcohol, creating a strong negative association between the act of drinking and the physical discomfort caused by the drug. This negative pairing is designed to condition the client to associate alcohol with an unpleasant experience, thus reducing their desire to consume alcohol.
The therapeutic principle behind aversion therapy is based on classical conditioning. In classical conditioning, a neutral stimulus (alcohol) is paired with an unconditioned stimulus (paralysis from curare) that naturally elicits an unconditioned response (discomfort, anxiety, or paralysis). Through repeated pairings, the previously neutral stimulus (alcohol) becomes a conditioned stimulus that triggers a conditioned response (discomfort, negative feelings) when the person drinks. Over time, this learned association can diminish the person’s desire to engage in the behavior (drinking alcohol) because it now brings about an unpleasant response.
Aversion therapy can be used for various behavioral issues, including smoking, overeating, and alcohol abuse. The effectiveness of the therapy can vary based on the individual, the strength of the aversive stimulus, and the consistency of pairing the undesirable behavior with the unpleasant consequence. However, the ethical considerations of using such a powerful and potentially harmful stimulus like curare raise questions, as it involves inducing physical discomfort or harm to achieve a behavioral change.
This type of treatment is generally used in a controlled clinical setting, ensuring that the client is monitored and that the aversive stimulus is used safely.