What approach does Aversive Conditioning utilize to eliminate unwanted behaviors?

Aversive Conditioning is a behavioral therapy technique that seeks to reduce or eliminate undesirable behaviors by associating them with negative consequences or unpleasant stimuli. By presenting an aversive stimulus when the unwanted behavior occurs, the individual learns to associate the behavior with something negative, thereby discouraging its repetition.

In this context, offering negative rewards for unwanted behavior aligns perfectly with the principles of Aversive Conditioning. The technique relies on creating a strong association between the undesired behavior and an aversive outcome, leading to a decrease in the frequency of that behavior as the individual seeks to avoid the unpleasant experience.

While positive rewards for abstinence and enhancing social connections are strategies used in other behavioral therapies, they do not fit the specific mechanism of Aversive Conditioning. Similarly, enhancing environmental factors may improve treatment outcomes, but it does not specifically address the method of using negative stimuli to deter unwanted actions. Therefore, the choice that accurately reflects the essence of Aversive Conditioning is to offer negative rewards for unwanted behavior.