Course detail

Basics of Psychology 1

FaVU-ZPS1Acad. year: 2024/2025

The course offers a systematic introduction to general psychology. It presents a basic description of psychological phenomena, processes and activities through which humans reflect, grasp and influence reality. It offers descriptions and explanations of mental processes from the perspective of human physiology and biology to understand how humans navigate the world, learn to understand themselves, and be better prepared to cope with the demands of living a meaningful life.

Language of instruction

Czech

Number of ECTS credits

Mode of study

Not applicable.

Guarantor

doc. Mgr. Richard Fajnor

Department

Department of Art History and Theory (KTDU)

Entry knowledge

None.

Rules for evaluation and completion of the course

The conditions for the exam and assessment:

active participation in classes to the extent of 50 %,
elaboration of a personal reflection on a topic related to the teaching content in the scope of 1 A4,
an exam combining written preparation and subsequent discussion on sub-specific topics.

Lecturing takes place in the classrooms of the FFA BUT in the hours determined by the schedule. Attendance is compulsory in 50 %.

Aims

The aim of the course is to provide students with the opportunity to acquire knowledge of basic psychological terminology, based on current knowledge of general psychology, and to orient themselves in its use. To understand the psychological processes, organization and dynamics of an individual's mental life and to be able to describe common functions of the human psyche. To gain information about theories of psychological aspects of human determination and basic insight into social interactions and group dynamics. Students will also learn about various psycho-hygienic techniques, energetization and activation practices of psycho-somatic manipulation.

The student acquires knowledge of basic psychological terminology and orientation in its use. He will get the opportunity to understand psychological processes, the organization and dynamics of an individual's mental life and their connection with body functions.

Study aids

Not applicable.

Prerequisites and corequisites

Not applicable.

Basic literature

Kitching, Helen J.; Wood, Amanda; Croft, Kimberley; Piaf, Carl; Bentley, Evie. Cambridge International AS&A Level Psychology. London: Hodder Education, 2022. ISBN 978-1398353008
Nakonečný M.: Obecná psychologie. Praha, Triton, 2015, 662 str., ISBN: 978-80-7387-929-7 (CS)
Říčan, Pavel. Psychologie (příručka pro studenty), Portál, 2012, ISBN 978-80-262-0532-6
Vágnerová, Marie. Obecná psychologie: Dílčí aspekty lidské psychiky a jejich orgánový základ. Praha: Karolinum, 2016. ISBN: 978-80-246-3268-1

Type of course unit

Lecture

13 hod., optionally

Teacher / Lecturer

doc. Mgr. Richard Fajnor

Syllabus

1. Introduction – elementary problematics of psychology and the subject of psychological sciences.

Terminology: psychics, stimulation, behavior, feeling, organism and its structure, general psychology, ontogenetic psychology, social psychology, personality psychology, psychology of art, patopsychology...

2. General psychology – perception

terminology: the perception process/the senses

3. General psychology – imagination, memory

terminology: dreams – latent and manifest content/hallucinations/types of memory – afterimage, short/long-term memory, engram, forgetting process

General psychology – learning, thinking

Terminology: conditionality – negative/positive enhancement/learning products – skills, experience, knowledge, social reaction/social learning/cognitive and humanistic theories of learning/thinking operations, abstraction processes, comparisons, analysis, synthesys, concretization, deduction, induction – mind forms / notion, judgment, statement, theory, hypothesis, lwa/language, logics, semanctics and interpretation, semantic triangle

5. General psychology – intelligence, creativity, attention

Terminology: IQ/convergent and divergent problem solution/creativity – fluency, flexibility, originality, elaboration, sensitivity, redefinition, creative personality/attention / arousal

6. general psychology – motivation, emotion

terminology: instinct, drive, need, stance/will/frustration, stress, deprivation/level and aspiraion/basic emotions/reactions, states - moods, relationship - passion/afect/phobias/higher emotions

Seminar

13 hod., compulsory

Teacher / Lecturer

doc. Mgr. Richard Fajnor