Kaz wants to stop biting his nails, so he rubs a strong bitter paste under his nails to make his nails taste bad. What technique is Kaz using to stop biting his nails?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Kaz is using aversion therapy. Aversion therapy is a type of psychological therapy that pairs a behavior with discomfort. The person has a natural aversion to discomfort, such as hating bitter taste or disliking the feeling of an electric shock. When someone pairs this discomfort with a behavior, the person also develops an aversion to the behavior. 
 Aversion therapy can be an effective intervention to discontinue bad habits such as smoking or overeating by putting unpleasant flavors in cigarettes or food. 
 Aversion therapy is often used when a person's behavior is self-harming, such as repeatedly restraining a person who is hitting their head on the wall.

Kaz Wants to Stop Biting His Nails, So He Rubs