An alcoholic is given Antabuse, which is a drug that causes nausea when paired with alcohol. This technique is called

• A. Systematic desensitization
• B. Aversive conditioning
• C. Token economy
• D. Operant conditioning

Answer: (B)

Aversive conditioning is a learning approach that discourages a behavior by pairing it with an unpleasant outcome. In this case, taking Antabuse makes alcohol consumption cause nausea, so the act of drinking becomes linked with an uncomfortable experience. Over time, this negative association reduces the desire to drink because the behavior is now tied to an aversive consequence.

This is a form of classical (Pavlovian) conditioning, where an automatic response (nausea/aversion) is elicited by a stimulus (alcohol) after it has been repeatedly paired with an unpleasant effect. It’s not about reinforcing or punishing a behavior after the fact to shape future actions, which is the realm of operant conditioning. It isn’t about gradual exposure to reduce fear (as in systematic desensitization) or about using tokens or rewards to encourage behavior (as in token economies).