An alcoholic is given a mild electric shock and asked to smell the alc...
Aversive conditioning is the behavioral technique being used in this scenario.
Aversive conditioning is a type of behavior modification that aims to reduce or eliminate unwanted behaviors by associating them with an unpleasant stimulus. It involves pairing an undesirable behavior with an aversive or unpleasant stimulus, such as an electric shock, in order to create an association between the behavior and the negative consequence. Over time, the individual learns to associate the behavior with the aversive stimulus and may develop a strong aversion or avoidance towards that behavior.
In the given scenario, an alcoholic is given a mild electric shock and asked to smell the alcohol. The purpose of this is to create an association between the smell of alcohol and the unpleasant electric shock. By repeatedly pairing the smell of alcohol with the shock, the individual may begin to develop a negative response to the smell of alcohol. This negative response can serve as a deterrent and may lead to the person giving up alcohol.
The use of aversive conditioning in this context is based on the principles of classical conditioning, which involve the formation of associations between stimuli and responses. In this case, the smell of alcohol is the conditioned stimulus (CS), while the electric shock is the unconditioned stimulus (US). Through repeated pairings, the individual learns to associate the smell of alcohol (CS) with the electric shock (US), leading to the development of a conditioned response (CR) of aversion or avoidance towards alcohol.
It is important to note that aversive conditioning, while it can be effective in some cases, is not without its limitations. It may not work for everyone, and the strength and persistence of the aversion can vary. Additionally, aversive conditioning alone may not be sufficient to address the underlying causes and motivations for alcohol addiction. Therefore, it is often used as part of a comprehensive treatment approach that includes other therapeutic techniques and interventions.
An alcoholic is given a mild electric shock and asked to smell the alc...
Aversive conditioning refers to repeated association of undesired response with an aversive consequence.
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