Free-operant avoidance of alcohol

• Published in: Journal of behavior therapy and experimental psychiatry Vol. 6; no. 3; pp. 242 - 245
• Main Authors: Ciminero, Anthony R., Doleys, Daniel M., Davidson, Robert S.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier Ltd 01.01.1975
• ISSN: 0005-7916; 1873-7943
• DOI: 10.1016/0005-7916(75)90109-3

An experimental analysis of the effects of electric shock on free-operant avoidance of alcohol was conducted with a single subject design. The subject made no avoidance responses during the baseline condition, where no shock was delivered. By removing and reinstating the shock contingency, it was found that the shock did exert some control over the avoidance behavior. However, after the subject was conditioned to avoid 100 per cent of the shock-alcohol, he continued to avoid all of the available alcohol even when there was no threat of shock. This 100 per cent avoidance of alcohol in the experimental setting has been observed in follow-up sessions up to 6 months after conditioning, and there appeared to be generalization of the conditioning effects to the subject's everyday environment.