Aversives: If It Hurts, Scares, or Shames… It’s This.

A warm, witty conversation about a topic that gets serious fast — and deserves clarity, compassion, and zero shame.

Let’s start with the obvious.

“Aversive procedures” is one of those phrases that sounds like it belongs in a behavior manual locked in a basement, with pages yellowing and the smell growing a bit more musty every passing year. It’s clinical. It’s heavy. It’s uncomfortable.

And honestly?

It should be.

Because aversive procedures are the part of behavior history we look back on and collectively say,“Yeah… let’s not do that again.”

So let’s talk about what they actually are — clearly, ethically, and without the horror‑movie soundtrack.

So… what is an aversive procedure?

In the simplest, most human terms:

An aversive procedure is anything designed to decrease behavior by causing discomfort, fear, pain, or distress.

If the goal is:

“Make this unpleasant so they stop doing it,”

then congratulations!

— you’ve entered "the aversive zone."

And no, that’s not a place we would really want to hang out.

Examples of Aversive Procedures

(the “Nope. NO NO NO. Not This” list)

These are the things that are banned, prohibited, or ethically off‑limits. Why?

Well... they actually induce harm or increase the possibility of harm happening in the future (trauma, unwanted learned behaviors, unpredictable situations, etc.)

• Harsh verbal reprimands

• Yelling, shaming, or threatening

• Spraying water, vinegar, or other substances

• Using loud noises or sensory discomfort

• Withholding meals or essential items

• Isolation used as punishment

• Forced physical guidance meant to “correct” behavior

• Anything that causes pain, fear, or humiliation

• Increasing supervision level and proximity to "correct" behavior.

If it would make you feel scared, degraded, or punished?

It’s aversive.

If it would make a child or adult think, “I better stop or something bad will happen,”

it’s aversive.

If it relies on fear instead of support?

Aversive.

But here’s the part people may not realize is aversive… because it was learned from their past.

Aversives aren’t always dramatic.

Sometimes they’re subtle.

Sometimes they’re unintentional.

Sometimes they’re baked into old habits or outdated training.

For example:

• Using a stern tone that shuts someone down

• Taking away a comfort item to “motivate” behavior

• Ignoring someone who is distressed because “we don’t reinforce crying”

• Using sensory overload as a consequence

• Making someone sit out of an activity as punishment

These may not look like “aversives,” but they function like them.

And function matters more than form.

Why aversive procedures are a big deal

Because they don’t just change behavior

—they change trust, relationships, self‑worth, and safety.

Aversives can:

• increase fear

• increase trauma responses

• increase aggression

• increase avoidance

• decrease communication

• damage relationships

• and create long‑term emotional harm

They don’t build skills.

They don’t support autonomy.

They don’t teach regulation.

They don’t help people thrive.

They just suppress behavior through fear — and that’s not behavior support.

That’s behavior control.

So what do we do instead?

We build behavior plans that focus on:

• proactive supports

• communication access

• sensory regulation

• environmental design

• skill‑building

• co‑regulation

• dignity

• autonomy

• trauma‑informed care

We replace “make it unpleasant” with“make it possible.”

We replace “stop that” with“here’s what you can do instead.”

We replace fear with support.

The quick test

If you’re ever unsure whether something is aversive, ask:

“Would this feel punishing, scary, humiliating, or uncomfortable if it were done to me?”

If the answer is yes → it’s aversive.

If the answer is “I’d hate that” → it’s aversive.

If the answer is “I’d remember that forever and not in a good way” → definitely aversive.

Final thought

Aversive procedures aren’t just outdated —they’re incompatible with dignity, autonomy, and trauma‑informed care.

Understanding them isn’t about shame. It’s about clarity. It’s about doing better. It’s about supporting humans like humans.

And that’s exactly what you’re here to do.