PL4S149 - Addiction, Dependence, and Deviance 21 Dec 2020 - 31 Aug 2028 | Version 2

Associated Module Information

Module Code: PL4S149
Module Title: Addiction, Dependence, and Deviance
Faculty: Faculty of Life Sciences and Education
Faculty Group: Psychology
Faculty Sub Group: Youth and Community
Module Leader: Bev John
Module Team: Martin Graff, Gareth Roderique-Davies, James Greville, Kirsty Richards, Alexis Jones, Dan Bowers, Leigh Attwood
First Intended Intake: SEP 2018 Final Year of Intake: 2023
Date Closed:
Credit Value: 20 Credit Level: 7
Language: English
Percentage of Module Taught in Welsh: 0
Equivalent Module:
HECOS codes: 100497 - psychology
HECOS Code Weighting: 100

Document Version Information

Version 2
Valid From 21 Dec 2020
Valid To 31 Aug 2028

Module Aims

To develop a systematic knowledge and critical awareness of addiction, dependency, and deviance; including influencing factors, resistance to treatment and the impact on quality of life.

Content Summary

Students will develop critical awareness of the factors influencing the development of a number of conditions, the reasons why people fail to self-regulate their intake and behaviour, explanations about resistance to treatment and relapse, and the long term prognosis of the conditions. Students will learn of the impact of these conditions on the quality of life of the sufferer and their families. The module will provide students with a detailed understanding of alcohol dependence, smoking and drug addiction. Other types of compulsions such as gambling, online addiction, and the ‘adrenaline junkie’ will also be studied. Finally, examples of extreme, deviant behaviour (e.g., serial killers) will be considered and the extent to which such behaviours might be considered as compulsions or addictions will be debated. Commonalities and distinctions between the different conditions will be explored, along with the concept of the ‘addictive personality’ and reasons why pastimes and coping strategies that may have initially been fairly harmless develop into life-limiting compulsions, dependencies, and addictions. The effectiveness of various intervention methods on the outcomes of these disorders will be critically evaluated.

Scheduled formative assessment designed to support the summative assignments will also form part of this module.

Learning and Teaching Methods

Activity Type Hours
Lecture 12
Seminar 10
Independent Study 152
Directed Study 8
Formative Assessment - Scheduled 8
Groupwork 10
Total Hours Selected 200

Learning Outcomes

# Learning Outcome
LO1 Synthesise and critically assess biological, psychological, and social factors associated with the development and maintenance of dependency and addiction, the impact on quality of life, and of the likely outcomes of such conditions.
LO2 Show clear evidence of the ability to critically appraise the substantive research relating to these conditions

Module Requisites

N/A

Assessment Criteria

Assessment Category Assessment Type Description Duration Word Count Weight (%) Best of? Pass Mark
Asynchronous Assessment Literature/book/paper review 1 Students will complete a systematic review of treatment efficacy for an addictive behaviour of their choice. 0 4000 100 No 40

Assessment Matrix

Assessment Type Learning Outcomes
LO1 LO2
Literature/book/paper review 1

Reading List

Students will be provided with reading specific to topics and seminars in advance of sessions, where appropriate, and these must be read in order to participate in the sessions. Students will be referred to topic specific current journals and will be expected to engage in substantial independent reading related to the topics that are taught and to their chosen topic in their assignments. Students will also be expected to select appropriate journal articles for student led seminars. Substantial research is required for all assessments.

Bennett, P. (2011). Abnormal Psychology (3rd ed.). Maidenhead: Open University Press.

Jones, T. & Tyson, P.J. (2014) Abnormal & Clinical Psychology, Harlow, Pearson Education.

Orford, J. (2009). Excessive Appetites: A Psychological View of Addiction (2nd Ed.). West Sussex: John Wiley & Sons.

Riley, D., & Pates, D. (2012). Harm Reduction in Substance Use and High-Risk Behaviour. West Sussex: John Wiley & Sons.

Graham, H.L., Copello, A., Birchwood, M.J., & Mueser, K.T. (2004). Substance misuse in psychosis: Approaches to treatment and service delivery. West Sussex: John Wiley & sons.