How Could You Use Classical Conditioning Procedures to Help Someone Quit Smoking?

First change your routine..in other words if you always smoke when you are on the phone then grab a pencil and doodle or if you smoke after you eat then get up and do the dishes…smoking is 50 % routine …find something else to do to substitute that activity

Suggestion:

find something that makes a sound that they hate, ever time they try to smoke, play it loudly. Adults are usually too stubborn for conditioning to work though. Maybe a taser?

{ 4 comments… read them below or add one }

Pair smoking behavior with an aversive stimulus.

For example, give the patient a drug that results in immediate nausea any time smoke is inhaled.

~Dr. B.~

I can answer this because I quit cold turkey. If you have the will power, you can do this. The cravings last about 6 days. Then the longings start, and you get yourself some nicotine gum. Get the unflavored type. This gum will satisfy your nicotine cravings, but will also make you puke everytime you smell cigarette smoke.

Quitting ain't easy. If you never have smoked then quit, then you have no opinion worth spit.,

Well, you cant ring a bell and have them drop the cigarette. What you can do is make them a very appealing deal where every time they want to smoke and they resist it, you give them a dollar (or $5, depending on how desperate you are). Every time they cave in they owe you $1 (or $5, depending on how desperate you are or how agreeable they are). Eventually switch from the money to treats since it can start to get expensive and its not ideal that you keep paying them. So switch to something like everyday they don't smoke, you give them a 30 minute back rub or make their favorite desert, get creative. However if they smoke even once they owe you a favor (make it a big one), like cleaning out the fridge or vacuuming the entire house. The concept is basically to condition them to correlate gains with not smoking and losses with smoking. The idea of getting something good in return should encourage them from not smoking and the idea of losing something or having to do a chore should discourage them from picking up the cigarette. Both of you have to be willing to stick to it to make it work. Hope it helps.

Replace cigarettes with nicotine gum or nicotine pads in a very gradual pace. Then, as the year goes by, reduce the amount of use of gum or pads until it is not necessary anymore.

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