ADDICTION
a. APPERCEPTION
STEP 1: Start With the General Concept of Addiction
“Let me ask you something—have you ever heard someone say, ‘I’m addicted to chocolate’ or ‘I can’t stop watching
this show’? or ‘I can’t live without coffee’.”
What do you think people really mean when they say that?
“People say things like that all the time, right? We use the word addicted to describe something we really enjoy or
can’t stop doing. But have you ever thought about what addiction actually means?”
(Let it sit for a second.)
"Addiction is when a person becomes physically or mentally dependent on a substance or behavior. It means they
feel a strong need to keep doing something, even when it's hurting them."
"There are two main types of addiction: Substance addiction – like alcohol, drugs, cigarettes. And Behavioral
addiction – like gambling, video games, or even social media."
STEP 2: Connect to Phone Addiction (Make It Personal)
“Now let me ask you another question: How many of you brought your phones to class today?” Raise your hand
if you did!”
(Pause, count hands.)
"Okay, now… be honest—how many of you checked your phone since school started this morning?"
(Smile and respond to reactions.)
"Don’t worry, you’re not alone. Phones are useful—but how often do we check them without even realizing it? How
many times do you check your phone in a day? ”Have you ever tried to take a break from your phone? Was it hard?
“Phone addiction is a real form of behavioral addiction. It’s when someone can’t stop checking their phone—even
when they know it’s hurting their focus, sleep, or relationships.”
STEP 3: Lead into the SEE-THINK-REFLECT Activity (Make It Visual + Emotional)
“We talk a lot about screen time—but what are we really missing when we can’t put our phones down?”
“Today we’ll look at a powerful photo series by artist Eric Pickersgill called Removed. He shows people in everyday
situations—but removes their phones to show what’s really left behind.”
“We’ll use a thinking strategy called See–Think–Reflect. Here’s how it works…”
🧠 Briefly explain:
See: What’s happening in the photo?
Think: What do you think the artist is saying?
Reflect: What does this mean to you personally?
STEP 4: Begin the Activity
“Let’s look at the first photo. I want you to just observe quietly. Then we’ll go through each step together.”
Step 1: See
Teacher:
“Look carefully at the first photo. Notice everything you can — who or what is there, what’s missing, any unusual
details.”
(Show first photo.)
“Take about one minute to observe quietly.”
(After a minute)
“Who wants to share what they see?”
Sample Student Answers:
“I see a person holding a phone but their face is blurred or missing.”
“There’s a chair and a table but no one is sitting.”
“It looks like something important was erased or taken away.”
“I see a phone screen that is blank or cracked.”
Step 2: Think
Teacher:
“Now, what do you think is happening in this photo? What message might the artist be sending by removing or
changing parts of the picture?”
Sample Student Answers:
“Maybe the person is losing themselves because of too much phone use.”
“It looks like the phone or technology is taking over and removing real life.”
“The missing parts could mean feeling empty or disconnected.”
“The artist might want us to notice what’s missing when we focus too much on screens.”
Step 3: Reflect
Teacher:
“How does this photo make you feel? Does it remind you of anything in your own life? Have you ever felt like
something important was missing?”
“What does this make you think about your own phone or technology use?”
Sample Student Answers:
“It makes me feel sad because I’ve been distracted by my phone and missed out on hanging out with friends.”
“I’ve noticed that when I’m on my phone too much, I don’t pay attention to my family.”
“It reminds me of times when I tried to stop using my phone but felt bored or anxious.”
“I think it’s important to take breaks because I don’t want to lose real moments.”
Wrap-Up Discussion:
Teacher:
“Thanks for sharing your thoughts. Photos like these help us understand how technology can sometimes ‘remove’
parts of our real lives if we’re not careful.”
“As we learn more about technology addiction, keep thinking about how we can balance our phone use so we don’t
lose important things in life.”
"Scroll, Stop, Speak!" – A Movement Icebreaker About Phone Habits
🔹 Slide 1: Introduction
Let’s loosen up and explore how we use our phones… with our bodies!
This activity will get you moving, thinking, and maybe even laughing a little!
🔹 Slide 2: How It Works
🟢 Step 1: Scroll
Walk slowly around the room while pretending to scroll on your phone.
Hunch over, squint, or act distracted
🛑 Step 2: Stop
When the teacher says “Stop!” — FREEZE like a paused video.
💬 Step 3: Speak or Act!
When the teacher calls out a prompt, respond with your body or words.
🔹 Slide 3: Action Prompts (Animated or Timed)
Here are some prompts you’ll see or hear:
“Act like you lost your phone.” 😱
“Your phone battery died — how do you feel?” 🔋❌
“Say what your phone would say to you.” 💬
“Pretend you just woke up and reached for your phone.” ⏰📱
“Act out turning off your phone and going outside.” 🌳👍
🔹 Slide 4: Optional Reflection
“What did it feel like to act out your phone habits?”
“Did anything feel a little too real?” 😅
“What does this tell us about our relationship with technology?”
🔹 Slide 5: Transition to Main Lesson
“Now that we’ve moved and laughed a bit, let’s continue exploring how phones affect us—and how we can build
healthy habits.”
How Using a Phone Can Lead to Addiction
1. Starts as a Habit
When you use your phone regularly—checking social media, playing games, or chatting with friends—it
becomes part of your daily routine.
2. Pleasure and Reward
Phones give quick rewards like likes, messages, or exciting content. This triggers your brain to release
dopamine, a chemical that makes you feel good.
3. Craving More
Because your brain enjoys this “feel-good” chemical, you start wanting to use your phone more and more to
get that happy feeling again.
4. Loss of Control
Over time, you may find it hard to stop checking your phone, even if it distracts you from homework, sleep, or
real-life conversations.
5. Negative Effects
If phone use starts causing problems—like poor grades, lack of sleep, or stress—but you still keep using it,
that’s a sign it might be turning into addiction.
📱 Phone Addiction vs. Phone Obsession
🔹 Phone Addiction
Definition: A behavioral addiction where a person cannot control their phone use, even when it causes serious
problems in their life.
Key Signs:
Loss of control: Can’t stop checking or using the phone even when they want to.
Interference with daily life: Affects sleep, school, relationships, or health.
Withdrawal symptoms: Feeling anxious, irritable, or restless when not using the phone.
Tolerance: Needing more and more time on the phone to feel satisfied.
Example: Someone who stays up every night for hours scrolling, skips homework, and gets angry or anxious when
their phone is taken away.
📌 Note: This is closer to a diagnosable behavioral issue, similar to gambling or gaming addiction.
🔸 Phone Obsession
Definition: A strong mental or emotional fixation on the phone, but not necessarily an uncontrollable behavior.
Key Signs:
Constant thoughts about the phone: Always wondering what’s happening online or waiting for
notifications.
Checking frequently: Often checks the phone even when there are no new messages or alerts.
Emotional attachment: Feels incomplete or uncomfortable without the phone, but can still function without
it when needed.
Example: A student who constantly checks for likes on a post or feels the need to have the phone nearby at all times
—even during meals.
📌 Note: Obsession is often an early stage of addiction, but the person may still be able to control the behavior.
