Addiction and Addictive Behaviours in Contemporary Society

Unit Outline (Higher Education)

   
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Effective Term: 2027/05
Institute / School :Institute of Health and Wellbeing
Unit Title: Addiction and Addictive Behaviours in Contemporary Society
Unit ID: PSYCB1006
Credit Points: 15.00
Prerequisite(s): Nil
Co-requisite(s): Nil
Exclusion(s): Nil
ASCED: 090701
Other Change:  
Brief description of the Unit

This unit introduces students to the psychological, social, developmental, and cultural factors associated with addiction and addictive behaviours in contemporary society. Students critically examine both substance-related and behavioural addictions, including alcohol and other drug use, gambling, gaming, social media, and online behaviours. The unit explores how individual, interpersonal, environmental, and societal factors interact to influence behavioural patterns, vulnerability and risk. Students also investigate the impacts of addiction on individuals, families, and communities, while examining evidence-based approaches to prevention, harm reduction, treatment recovery, and support. Through contemporary research, case studies and real-world applications, students develop evidence-informed perspectives on addiction across health, community, and justice contexts.

Grade Scheme: Graded (HD, D, C, P, MF, F, XF)
Work Experience Indicator:
No work experience
Placement Component:
Supplementary Assessment:Yes
Where supplementary assessment is available a student must have failed overall in the Unit but gained a final mark of 45 per cent or above, has completed all major assessment tasks (including all sub-components where a task has multiple parts) as specified in the Unit Description and is not eligible for any other form of supplementary assessment
Course Level:
Level of Unit in CourseAQF Level(s) of Course
5678910
Introductory                                                
Intermediate                                                
Advanced                                                
Learning Outcomes:
Knowledge:
Skills:
Application of knowledge and skills:
Other outcomes:
O1.

Explain biological, psychological, social, cultural, developmental, technological, and environmental factors associated with addiction and addictive behaviours.

O2.

Describe the impacts of different forms of addiction and addictive behaviours on individuals, families, communities, and broader society.

O3.

Analyse addiction-related scenarios using biopsychosocial, cultural, and evidence-informed perspectives while critically recognising the influence of stigma, bias, and assumptions on understandings of addiction and addictive behaviours.

O4.

Explain ethical and culturally responsive prevention, harm reduction, support, and intervention approaches relevant to addiction and addictive behaviours.

O5.

Communicate evidence-informed knowledge and perspectives on addiction and addictive behaviours to diverse audiences.

Unit Content:

This unit is designed to enable students to develop an understanding of addiction and addictive behaviours within contemporary social, cultural, and technological contexts.

Topics may include:

  • Biological, psychological, social, cultural, developmental, and environmental influences on addictive behaviours
  • Alcohol and other drugs; gambling, gaming, social media and online behaviour.
  • Impacts on individuals, families, and communities.
  • Stigma, bias, and assumptions.
  • Prevention, harm reduction, support and intervention approaches.
  • Communicating evidence-informed perspectives on addiction and addictive behaviours.
Graduate Attributes:
Federation University recognises that students require key transferable employability skills to prepare them for their future workplace and society. FEDTASKS (Transferable Attributes Skills and Knowledge) provide a targeted focus on five key transferable Attributes, Skills, and Knowledge that are be embedded within curriculum, developed gradually towards successful measures and interlinked with cross-discipline and Co-operative Learning opportunities. One or more FEDTASK, transferable Attributes, Skills or Knowledge must be evident in the specified learning outcomes and assessment for each FedUni Unit, and all must be directly assessed in each Course.

FED TASK and descriptorDevelopment and acquisition of FEDTASKS in the Unit
Level
FEDTASK 1
Interpersonal

Students at this level will demonstrate an advanced ability in a range of contexts to effectively communicate, interact and work with others both individually and in groups. Students will be required to display high level skills in-person and/or online in: • Using and demonstrating a high level of verbal and non-verbal communication • Demonstrating a mastery of listening for meaning and influencing via active listening • Demonstrating and showing empathy for others • High order skills in negotiating and conflict resolution skills\\ • Demonstrating mastery of working respectfully in cross-cultural and diverse teams.

Level 1 - Students require directions and boundaries from mentor
FEDTASK 2
Leadership

Students at this level will demonstrate a mastery in professional skills and behaviours in leading others. • Creating and sustaining a collegial environment • Demonstrating a high level of self -awareness and the ability to self-reflect and justify decisions • Inspiring and initiating opportunities to lead others • Making informed professional decisions • Demonstrating initiative in new professional situations.

FEDTASK 3
Critical Thinking and Creativity

Students at this level will demonstrate high level skills in working in complexity and ambiguity using the imagination to create new ideas. Students will be required to display skills in: • Reflecting critically to generate and consider complex ideas and concepts at an abstract level • Analysing complex and abstract ideas, concepts and information • Communicate alternative perspectives to justify complex ideas • Demonstrate a mastery of challenging conventional thinking to clarify complex concepts • Forming creative solutions in problem solving to new situations for further learning.

Level 1 - Students require directions and boundaries from mentor
FEDTASK 4
Digital Literacy

Students at this level will demonstrate the ability to work competently across a wide range of tools, platforms and applications to achieve a range of tasks. Students will be required to display skills in: • Mastering, exploring, evaluating, managing, curating, organising and sharing digital information professionally • Collating, managing complex data, accessing and using digital data securely • Receiving and responding professionally to messages in a range of professional digital media • Contributing competently and professionally to digital teams and working groups • Participating at a high level in digital learning opportunities.

Level 1 - Students require directions and boundaries from mentor
FEDTASK 5
sustainable and Ethical Mindset

Students at this level will demonstrate a mastery of considering and assessing the consequences and impact of ideas and actions in enacting professional ethical and sustainable decisions. Students will be required to display skills in: • Demonstrate informed judgment making that considers the impact of devising complex solutions in ambiguous global economic environmental and societal contexts • Professionally committing to the promulgation of social responsibility • Demonstrate the ability to evaluate ethical, socially responsible and/or sustainable challenges and generating and articulating responses • Communicating lifelong, life-wide and life-deep learning to be open to the diverse professional others • Generating, leading and implementing required actions to foster sustainability in their professional and personal life

Level 1 - Students require directions and boundaries from mentor
 Learning Outcomes AssessedAssessment TasksAssessment TypeWeightingProfessional Standards
1. 1, 2

Assessment of students' understanding of foundational concepts, theories, contributing factors, and impacts associated with addiction and addictive behaviours

Invigilated Test/s

15 - 25%

2. 1, 2, 3, 5

Communicate evidence-informed perspectives on addiction and addictive behaviours to a specified audience.

Communication Task

35 - 45%

3. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5

Critically analyse addiction-related scenarios or media representations using psychological evidence and contemporary perspectives.

Written Task

40 - 45%

Adopted Reference Style:
APA  ()

Professional Standards / Competencies:
 Standard / Competency