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PS30198: Psychology of addictive behaviours

[Page last updated: 15 October 2020]

Follow this link for further information on academic years Academic Year: 2020/1
Further information on owning departmentsOwning Department/School: Department of Psychology
Further information on credits Credits: 6      [equivalent to 12 CATS credits]
Further information on notional study hours Notional Study Hours: 120
Further information on unit levels Level: Honours (FHEQ level 6)
Further information on teaching periods Period:
Semester 2
Further information on unit assessment Assessment Summary: CW 100%
Further information on unit assessment Assessment Detail:
  • Press release (CW 50%)
  • Policy (CW 50%)
Further information on supplementary assessment Supplementary Assessment:
Like-for-like reassessment (where allowed by programme regulations)
Further information on requisites Requisites:
Description: Aims:
The aims of this unit are to
* Compare and contrast theories of addiction,
* Apply the concept of addiction across a range of different behaviours,
* illustrate the role of the media and policy in communicating and influencing issues relating to drug use and addictive behaviours.

Learning Outcomes:
In completing this unit students would be expected to:
* Critically evaluate different theoretical accounts of addiction
* Gain a broad understanding of different types of addictive behaviour
* Critically evaluate the role of the media and policy in drug use and addictive behaviours.

Skills:

* Comprehensive and scholarly written communication
* Concise, time-bound and effective written communication for real world impact (press releases, policy briefing)
* Ability to select, summarise and synthesise written information from multiple sources
* Ability to develop rigorous arguments through precise use of concepts and models
* Ability to apply theory into practice
* Ability to select and use appropriate ideas to produce a coherent response to a pre-set question
* Ability to produce work to agreed specifications and deadlines
* Ability to use peer feedback as an assessment for learning
* Ability to work independently, without close supervision of guidance.

Content:

* Critically evaluate a range of theoretical accounts of addiction (e.g. the 'brain disease' model of addiction)
* Explaining how the concept of addiction can be applied to a number of different behaviours including drugs and behavioural addictions
* Outlining the role of the media and policy in communicating issues around drug use and addictive behaviours.
Further information on programme availabilityProgramme availability:

PS30198 is Optional on the following programmes:

Department of Psychology

Notes:

  • This unit catalogue is applicable for the 2020/21 academic year only. Students continuing their studies into 2021/22 and beyond should not assume that this unit will be available in future years in the format displayed here for 2020/21.
  • Programmes and units are subject to change in accordance with normal University procedures.
  • Availability of units will be subject to constraints such as staff availability, minimum and maximum group sizes, and timetabling factors as well as a student's ability to meet any pre-requisite rules.
  • Find out more about these and other important University terms and conditions here.