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HE Unit Template
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Addiction and Addictive Behaviours in Contemporary Society
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PSYCB1006 - Addiction and Addictive Behaviours in Contemporary Society
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20270200
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1.1
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2026-09-10
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2026-09-10
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Psychology
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Institute of Health and Wellbeing
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Psychology
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Undergraduate
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15
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.125
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090701
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Psychology
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090701 - Psychology
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<a href="http://www.federation.edu.au/locate/unit/psycb1006">View unit fees</a>
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Graded (e.g. HD, D, C, etc)
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7
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Bachelor Degree
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1
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<p>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.</p>
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<p>This unit is designed to enable students to develop an understanding of addiction and addictive behaviours within contemporary social, cultural, and technological contexts.</p>
<p>Topics may include:</p>
<ul>
<li>Biological, psychological, social, cultural, developmental, and environmental influences on addictive behaviours</li>
<li>Alcohol and other drugs; gambling, gaming, social media and online behaviour.</li>
<li>Impacts on individuals, families, and communities.</li>
<li>Stigma, bias, and assumptions.</li>
<li>Prevention, harm reduction, support and intervention approaches.</li>
<li>Communicating evidence-informed perspectives on addiction and addictive behaviours.</li>
</ul>
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<p>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.</p>
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2027
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2026
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PSYCB1006 - Addiction and Addictive Behaviours in Contemporary Society
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PSYCB1006 - Addiction and Addictive Behaviours in Contemporary Society
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Semester
Semester 1
Semester 2
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Year
2027
2026
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Overview
Key information
Requisites
Learning outcomes
Assessment
FedTASK
Parent Region
Overview
Unit description
<p>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.</p>
Unit content
<p>This unit is designed to enable students to develop an understanding of addiction and addictive behaviours within contemporary social, cultural, and technological contexts.</p> <p>Topics may include:</p> <ul> <li>Biological, psychological, social, cultural, developmental, and environmental influences on addictive behaviours</li> <li>Alcohol and other drugs; gambling, gaming, social media and online behaviour.</li> <li>Impacts on individuals, families, and communities.</li> <li>Stigma, bias, and assumptions.</li> <li>Prevention, harm reduction, support and intervention approaches.</li> <li>Communicating evidence-informed perspectives on addiction and addictive behaviours.</li> </ul>
Key information
Institute / school:
Institute of Health and Wellbeing
Discipline:
Psychology
Study level:
Undergraduate
Credit points:
15
EFTSL:
0.125
Field of education:
090701 - Psychology
Offering:
<p><strong>Semester 2</strong><p>Ballarat - Mt Helen (On Campus)</p><p>Berwick (On Campus)</p><p>Gippsland - Churchill (On Campus)</p></p>
Grade scheme:
Graded (e.g. HD, D, C, etc)
Placement component:
No
Fee information:
<a href="http://www.federation.edu.au/locate/unit/psycb1006">View unit fees</a>
Requisites
Prerequisite
None
Corequisite
None
Exclusion
None
Learning outcomes
Learning outcomes
<p>On successful completion of this unit, students are expected to gain the following [K]nowledge, [S]kills and [A]pplication of knowledge & skills</p>
Learning Outcomes
Ref
Outcome
1
<p>Explain how biological, psychological, social, cultural, developmental, technological and environmental factors contribute to addiction and addictive behaviours.</p>
2
<p>Evaluate the impacts of different forms of addiction and addictive behaviours on individuals, families, communities and broader society.</p>
3
<p>Analyse addiction-related scenarios using biopsychosocial and cultural perspectives, considering relevant evidence, stigma, bias and assumptions.</p>
4
<p>Explain prevention, harm-reduction, support and intervention approaches relevant to addiction and addictive behaviours in an ethical and culturally responsive manner.</p>
5
<p>Evaluate evidence-informed perspectives on addiction and addictive behaviours and communicate them appropriately to diverse audiences.</p>
Assessment
Learning Tasks and Assessment
Ref
Learning task
Assessment type
Weighting
Learning outcomes assessed
1
<p>Assessment of students' understanding of foundational concepts, theories, contributing factors, and impacts associated with addiction and addictive behaviours</p>
<p>Invigilated Test/s</p>
<p>15 - 25%</p>
1, 2
2
<p>Communicate evidence-informed perspectives on addiction and addictive behaviours to a specified audience.</p>
<p>Communication Task</p>
<p>35 - 45%</p>
1, 2, 3, 5
3
<p>Critically analyse addiction-related scenarios or media representations using psychological evidence and contemporary perspectives.</p>
<p>Written Task</p>
<p>40 - 45%</p>
1, 2, 3, 4, 5
Supplementary assessment available:
Yes
Supplementary assessment information:
<p>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.</p>
FedTASK
FedTASK
Description of FedTASK outcome
Level
FedTASK 1: Interpersonal
The ability to effectively communicate, interact and work with others both individually and in groups.
<p>Level 1 - Students require directions and boundaries from mentor</p>
FedTASK 2: Leadership
The ability to apply professional skills and behaviours in leading others.
FedTASK 3: Critical Thinking and Creativity
The ability to work in complexity and ambiguity using imagination to create new ideas.
<p>Level 1 - Students require directions and boundaries from mentor</p>
FedTASK 4: Digital Literacy
The ability to work fluently across a range of tools and applications to achieve a range of skills.
<p>Level 1 - Students require directions and boundaries from mentor</p>
FedTASK 5: Sustainable and Ethical Mindset
The ability to consider and assess the consequences and impact of ideas and actions in enacting ethical and sustainable decisions.
<p>Level 1 - Students require directions and boundaries from mentor</p>
FedTASK
<p>Federation University recognises that students require key transferable employability skills to prepare them for their future workplace and society. FedTASKs (<strong>T</strong>ransferable <strong>A</strong>ttributes <strong>S</strong>kills and <strong>K</strong>nowledge) provide a targeted focus on five key, transferable Attributes, Skills, and Knowledge that are embedded within curriculum, developed gradually towards successful measures and interlinked with cross-discipline and co-operative learning opportunities.</p>
Key information
Institute / school:
Institute of Health and Wellbeing
Discipline:
Psychology
Study level:
Undergraduate
Credit points:
15
EFTSL:
0.125
Field of education:
090701 - Psychology
Offering:
<p><strong>Semester 2</strong><p>Ballarat - Mt Helen (On Campus)</p><p>Berwick (On Campus)</p><p>Gippsland - Churchill (On Campus)</p></p>
Grade scheme:
Graded (e.g. HD, D, C, etc)
Placement component:
No
Fee information:
<a href="http://www.federation.edu.au/locate/unit/psycb1006">View unit fees</a>
Additional information
Add Info Static Text
Internal reference: PSYCB1006 - U1.1