The Psych Files: 5 Reasons Why You’re Addicted to Your Phone and What To Do About It
Details
Main Website:
Activity Website:
Activity Description
The “Psych Files” provides information about human behavior and is of special interest to anyone studying psychology. In this activity, students listen to a podcast by Michael Britt titled “5 Reasons Why You’re Addicted to Your Phone and What To Do About It” in which he gives reasons drawn from psychological theories on how we learn. Students are then asked to share their thoughts about cell phone usage and what rules they would implement to help control their teenager’s use.
Preparation
- Check to be sure the site is not blocked at your school and that your speakers are loud enough to be heard by all students.
- Preview the podcast and handout.
- Jot down a few questions to help start the discussion.
- Download and make copies of the handout. See the link above.
How-To
- Start with a discussion of addiction. Give a definition of addiction and ask if you can be addicted to your phone.
- Introduce the podcast and then play it.
- Ask students for their response to the podcast. Use your discussion questions to expand the discussion.
- Pass out the handout and go over the psychological theories presented.
- Ask students to share their thoughts about cell phone usage in an essay and what rules they would implement to help control their teenager’s phone usage. Be sure to give students time to brainstorm and develop their essays.
- Share some of their ideas in a concluding discussion.
More Ways
You can also follow up with another podcast by Michael Britt titled, "Ep 260: We’re All Addicted To Our Phones. How You Can Feel Better About It" .. He covers a few more points that he was not able to cover in the first podcast.
Program Areas
- ASE: High School Diploma
- ABE: Adult Basic Education
- ASE: High School Equivalency Preparation
Levels
- All Levels
