What is the primary goal of aversion therapy in Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA)?

Aversion therapy in Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) is centered around the use of unpleasant stimuli to decrease undesirable behaviors. This approach is based on the principle that introducing an aversive consequence immediately following an unwanted behavior can reduce its frequency over time. The fundamental concept here is that the individual learns to associate the unpleasant stimulus with the behavior they are trying to eradicate, leading to a decrease in that behavior.

For example, if a child exhibits a behavior such as bullying and an aversive consequence is applied consistently when the behavior occurs, the child may begin to understand that the behavior leads to an unpleasant outcome, encouraging them to refrain from such actions in the future. This strategy can be especially effective when other methods have failed.

In contrast, other options focus on positive reinforcement and skill development rather than addressing and modifying specific undesired behaviors through aversive means. Therefore, the emphasis on using unpleasant stimuli to decrease undesirable behaviors is what clearly defines the primary goal of aversion therapy in the context of ABA.