AVERSION THERAPY

Aversion therapy aims to reduce or eliminate undesirable behaviours by pairing them with negative stimuli. The basic premise behind this technique is to create an aversion or negative association with a specific behaviour, which then decreases the likelihood of that behaviour occurring in the future. It can therefore be used to improve performance by decreasing the effect of certain net negative behaviours.

To start, a player should analyse which behaviours they want to improve. This could include common aspects like work ethic, commitment, focus, or consistency. They should then pick the aversive stimuli which can be associated with the behaviours to change. These could be simple cues, sounds, or sensations. Whenever catching oneself engaging in the undesirable behaviour, this should be the trigger to be exposed to the chosen aversive stimulus. 

For instance, if procrastinating a training session and recognising this, it could be wise to leave all existing stimuli to one side and stand, staring blankly at a wall. Limit all actions and thoughts. The boredom which builds is typically accompanied with a rise in anxiety and associated with discomfort. It is important to then create the association between this procrastination and the subsequent discomfort as a consequence of this action to create the aversion to the behaviour. It is in consistently pairing the aversive stimulus with the target behaviour that over time, your brain may start associating the discomfort with the behaviour you want to change.

Alongside aversion therapy, reward yourself for positive changes and accomplishments. Positive reinforcement can strengthen your motivation and sense of achievement. There are a host of alternate behavioural therapies which can also combine to maximise the effects on performance. It is wise to work with a professional psychologist to allow for a more individualised strategy, so keep this in mind.