Identifying Types of Addictions
Objective: To recognize and differentiate between various types of addictions.
Instructions:
1. Read the descriptions of different types of addictions below.
2. Identify the type of addiction described in each scenario.
3. Write down your answers and explanations for why you chose each type of addiction.
Scenario 1: Mary spends hours each day scrolling through social media, often at the expense of her work and personal relationships. She feels anxious and restless when she is unable to check her notifications.
Scenario 2: Tom feels a compulsive need to engage in online shopping, even when he doesn’t need anything. He often buys items impulsively and struggles to control his spending.
Scenario 3: Sarah frequently consumes large amounts of caffeine to stay awake and alert, even though it causes her to feel jittery and irritable.
Scenario 4: Jake is a high school student who started smoking cigarettes with his friends to fit in. Over time, he has developed a strong physical and psychological dependence on nicotine.
xtraCoach Example of Answers
Social media addiction: Mary’s excessive use of social media and feelings of anxiety when not using it suggest a behavioral addiction to social media.
Shopping addiction: Tom’s compulsive need to shop and inability to control his spending indicate a behavioral addiction to shopping.
Substance addiction: Sarah’s reliance on caffeine to stay awake and alert points to a substance addiction to caffeine.
Substance addiction: Jake’s dependence on nicotine and initiation of smoking to fit in with his peers indicate a substance addiction to nicotine.
Feel free to discuss your answers with a partner or in a group to gain different perspectives on the types of addictions presented in each scenario.
