ADC408: Technology, Life Balance & Behavioral Addictions

Course Description

We live in an epidemic of addiction to sex, pornography, online affairs, gaming, the Internet and Facebook/social media: all addictions that are exacerbated by technology. These fit into a larger category of addictions called behavioral addictions which also includes: codependency, eating, shopping, exercising and work addiction. This course is intended to equip students with an interdisciplinary approach to minister to those with technology-related addictions combining lessons from the disciplines of counseling/psychology, theology, public health and technology.

Course Objectives

After completing this course, you will be able to:

  1. Monitor media usage and set boundaries with technology ensure their own sobriety and a healthy diet of media, technology and relationships and to enable others to do the same.
  2. Communicate the common causes, patterns and treatment of behavioral addictions including: codependency, workaholism, gaming, gambling, pornography, online/social media, eating, exercise and shopping.
  3. Communicate how technology-related and behavioral addictions and media have affected them.
  4. Identify resources available to get help if you or others you know face issues of technology-related and behavioral addictions and to be equipped to make referrals and, as appropriate, help with peer support groups within your ministry context.
  5. Develop a plan for themselves and others to maintain life balance, avoid burnout and protection from behavioral addictions.

Syllabus

Course Materials & Tuition 

Crouch, A. (2017). The tech-wise family: everyday steps for putting technology in its proper place. Grand Rapids: Baker Books. ISBN: 978-0801018664
224 pages.

$10.13

Hart, A. D., & Frejd, S. H. (2013). The Digital Invasion: How Technology Is Shaping You and Your Relationships.
Baker Books. ISBN-10: 0801015294. ISBN-13: 978-0801015298
240 pages.

$12.37

Tuition

$800.00

Total Cost of Course:

$822.50