Aversion therapy is a method used in treating compulsive habits. Indicate two potential compulsive behaviours that can be treated using aversive therapy and highlight the mechanism behind the effectiveness of this therapeutic approach.

Aversive therapy is a relatively short-lasting therapeutical intervention where an individual is exposed to a stimulus and, simultaneously, is subjected to moderate-to-severe discomfort. This negative reinforcement is intended to cause the individual to associate the noxious stimulus with an unpleasant sensation such that over time the compulsive behaviour cessates. Two potential behaviours in which aversive therapy has been shown effective are drug addition and obsessive compulsive disorders, such as nail biting habbits. A study on chronic nail-biters showed that a low-amplitude electric stimulus lead to the cessation of maladaptive behaviour in roughly 80% during a three month exposure perior. The two control groups receiving either an aversive substance applied to the fingernails or placebo showed relatively weak effectiveness rates compared to the aversion therapy.