PSY 291 General psychology as a story telling and adventure

Faculty of Social Studies

Spring 2018

Lecturer: Doc. Lubomír Kostroň

Course            Objectives

a)      to discover:  behind the theories in general psychology  there are hidden names, faces and
life-stories of an authentic people;

b)      to play: become a designer – choose two, three of the questions presented, find enough of
relevant information and compose a fresh, coherent view of them. Put old concepts into a new light.
Tell your own story – how will psychology look like in about ten years?

What psychological tools should you master to make a living? Even better – became a new tool maker
yourself!

c)      to improve the English proficiency.

Learning outcomes:

Completing the requirements of this course, the student will acquire more personal understanding of
general academic concepts and the courage to be critical and creative thinker will be reinforced.
Thus the ability to cope with unexpected professional problems and to recognize better
possibilities of their solution is to be reinforced.


Course            Description (4 ECTS)

This course requires students

1        to choose one topic from the presented variety, which they feel interested enough

2        to research independently some more information about it

3        to compose a 15 minutes presentation for a class (and to consult it in advance by

e-mail with the lecturer)

4        to present it to the class and to participate in their group grading.


The choice of topics is the following one:

a)      Perception, judgment (how Viennese logical positivist Egon Brunswik met Californian
behaviourist,  Edward C. Tolman and what resulted from their co-operation);

b)      Social judgment theory (how Kenneth R. Hammond at the University of Colorado competed with
Kahneman in Princeton and Twersky of Oregon Research Institute – and lost);

c)      The nature of information and knowledge (how  simply  Stanislaw Lem sees the transformation
of percept impulses into an information);

d)      Model of general psychology (building mysterious Golem of Rabi Jehuda Leva ben Becalel on
our own) beyond cognition - what to add?;

e)       General psychology and the concept of personality (what fits with what?);

f)       Ill- defined problems´ solution (history of naval catastrophes - stories of reasoning,
emotions and social context. The theory of tasks (John Rohrbaugh), situations and the
environment/ecology);

g)      The decision-making under uncertainty, social context and group support (Thomas Stewart,
Ray W.Cooksey, others…) ;

h)      System dynamics  (tell your story of how a structure was transformed into a
process)

i)        Interpersonal cognitive conflict solution  (workshop with POLICY DOS software, which
Martin Vaculík used then, and how the judgment analysis is done nowadays);

j)        The eternal puzzle of Consciousness (will the quantum physics approach meet with the
molecular neurology?);

k)      The ultimate aim of knowledge – the art of asking the right questions;

l)        Metapsychology (how do you see the future of psychology?).


Course Format

Three blocks of lectures and discussions, e-mail consultations and feedback, the assignment
presentation.    On the last meeting about 10 works will be presented to the class, discussed and
group graded.

The extent: 15 minutes presentation (plus 15 minutes discussion) or about 10 pages essay. It is
strongly recommended to check the timing of presentation while preparing it. The grading of the
presentations by students will be recorded on prepared marking sheets. Those, who prefer it, may
submit their paper for lecturer´s grading only.

Course            Materials

The course materials include three sets of PowerPoint presentations together with recommended
literature. A considerable proportion of the reading is to be discovered by students themselves, as
they proceed with the assignment composition. The sources of information are indicated during the
lecture. Otherwise, students are free to explore any internet sources which seem to be academically
relevant.  The sources used are to be identified in their presentation as it is usual.

General Course Requirements

The prerequisites for registering are the successful completion of the General psychology courses
PSY105 and PSY106.

Course            Evaluation Criteria &            Grading Scale

Criteria used

The high grade papers will be those with a reasonably complex topic, proving high ingenuity,
originality and independent approach in thinking as well as searching for information sources. A
good example, used in the presentation, will be also appreciated.

Grade      %  Material Correct

A             93 and higher

                           B             83 - 86.99

                                                   C             70 – 76.99

A -           90 - 92.99

                           B-            80 - 82.99

                                                   D             60 – 69.99

B+           87 - 89.99

                           C+           77 – 79.99

                                                   F              59.99 and below




Office  Consultation

Consultations are preferred by e-mail. However, personal meeting are also possible, upon request.
(l.kostron@seznam.cz)


Week              Date                Topics to be covered

Meeting 1:     23. 3. 2018      a – c

Meeting 2:     4. 5. 2018        d – h

Meeting 3:     11. 5. 2018      i – l assignments to be consulted

Meeting 4:     18. 5. 2018      students´ presentations


Time: 13. 30 – 16.45