Role of Stimulus Generalization in the Treatment of Alcoholism

Cohen, Danny J.; Phelan, Joseph G.

doi:10.2466/pr0.1971.29.3.771

Cited by 4 publications

(1 citation statement)

References 17 publications

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“…Further findings suggest that when Ss who value internal locus of control are placed in situations which allow no opportunity for internal control they frequently manifest behavior which may be conceptualized as "reactance" or "resistance" {Brehm, 1966). Cohen and Phelan (1971) demonstrated that "internal" alcoholics showed rapid extinction following aversive conditioning, whereas "external" alcoholics showed both generalization of an "anxiety" response across various alcoholic stimuli, and a prolonged extinction process.…”

Section: And Grings {1973)mentioning

confidence: 98%

Aversive Conditioning and Cognitive Mediators with Alcoholic Respondents *

Rice¹,

Schoenfeld

1975

British Journal of Addiction to Alcohol & Other Drugs

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Some theoretical explanations of aversive conditioning posit specific emotional stales or "cognitive medialors" to account for behavior suppression. Although "anxiety" is widely recognised as much a cognitive mediator, few studies have attempted to obtain measures of "state anxiety" or of alternative competing hypotheses to test the model. This study probed the effects of two aversive conditioning paradigms on subjective responses to both alcohol-related and non-alcohol related stimuli to test the anxiety model against other competing alternatives. A strong social desirability response bias obscured measurement on three outcome dimensions; adjective ratings of (I) General Evaluation, (2) Dangerousness, and (3) Appetitiveness. Both paradigms [i.e. Punishment and Mixed) appeared capable of producing increased " Aversiveness" for alcohol-related stimuli; "Mixed'" paradigm in which CS-UCS contingencies were unpredictable was capable of increasing state anxiety displayed toward both test stimuli. Due to differential subject attrition, a quan-experimental design was imposed which complicated application of statistical tests, A point prevalence follow-up at 90 days suggested that the experimental groups were slightly more successful al avoiding alcohol. An observation was made about a personality dynamic of alcoholics which is thought to engender psychological reactance toward treatment interventions which do not allow opportunity for internal control.Some theoretical explanations of aversive conditioning assume the presence of specific emotional states or "cognitive mediators" to explain the suppression of deviant behavior . At present, "anxiety" is the most widely recognized of the various cognitive mediators. Its function in aversive conditioning is seen as the forming of an association between conditioned anxiety, generated by noxious stimuli, and a previously attractive stimulus such that the stimulus becomes anxiety-provoking rather than anxiety-reducing. The ultimate goal of the conditioning process is the elimination of undesirable behavior under contingent control ofthe previously attractive stimulus. Tbe process generally cited is that in aversive conditioning, noxious stimulation produces both generalized emotional arousal (anxiety) and escape-withdrawal responses whicb are incompatible with the previously on-going behavior (Bandura, 1969). Although the role * This research contributed to a doctoral dissertation submitted to the Graduate Office, Florida State University, by the senior author. Sincere thanks are extended to members of the doctorale committee and to all those who contributed to the committee, especially to Wallace Kennedy, Chairman; Elvis Smith, ARC

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Section: And Grings {1973)mentioning

confidence: 98%

Aversive Conditioning and Cognitive Mediators with Alcoholic Respondents *

Rice¹,

Schoenfeld

1975

British Journal of Addiction to Alcohol & Other Drugs

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Current Status of the Field: An Anthropological Perspective on the Behavior Modification Treatment of Alcoholism

Levinson

1983

Recent Developments in Alcoholism

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Contingency Management in the Treatment of Adolescent Alcohol Drinking Problems

Brigham

Rekers

Rosen

et al. 1981

The Journal of Psychology

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Three case studies demonstrated that social and monetary reinforcement for abstinence reduced the rate of excessive alcohol drinking in adolescents. The self-monitoring and extrinsic reinforcement procedures (ABA reversal design) resulted in complete abstinence in a 15-year-old boy with a 10-year history of excessive alcohol abuse and hospitalization for an alcohol-induced psychosis. In the cases of the 13-year-old and 15-year-old girls with extensive alcohol abuse histories, the behavioral interventions decreased the rate of alcohol consumption during treatment phases, but alcohol abuse increased markedly with the removal of the intervention procedures.

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Role of Stimulus Generalization in the Treatment of Alcoholism

Cited by 4 publications

References 17 publications

Aversive Conditioning and Cognitive Mediators with Alcoholic Respondents *

Aversive Conditioning and Cognitive Mediators with Alcoholic Respondents *

Current Status of the Field: An Anthropological Perspective on the Behavior Modification Treatment of Alcoholism

Contingency Management in the Treatment of Adolescent Alcohol Drinking Problems

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