SPEDB003 General Psychology

Faculty of Arts
Autumn 2025
Extent and Intensity
1/1/0. 6 credit(s). Type of Completion: zk (examination).
In-person direct teaching
Teacher(s)
doc. PhDr. Bohumíra Lazarová, Ph.D. (lecturer)
Guaranteed by
doc. PhDr. Bohumíra Lazarová, Ph.D.
Department of Educational Sciences – Faculty of Arts
Contact Person: Mgr. et Mgr. Adéla Zajíčková
Supplier department: Department of Educational Sciences – Faculty of Arts
Course Enrolment Limitations
The course is only offered to the students of the study fields the course is directly associated with.
fields of study / plans the course is directly associated with
Course objectives
The main goal of the course is to provide students with basic knowledge about psychology as a science. The goal is to provide students with the basic concepts of general psychology, introduce the system of psychological sciences, selected psychological approaches and theories. The goal is also to connect psychological knowledge with the everyday life and experiences of students. Another goal is to motivate students to be interested in the functioning of the human psyche, connect psychological knowledge with pedagogical disciplines and use knowledge from psychology in future practice. This course is followed by the psychology of lifelong development (ontogenetic psychology), social and pedagogical psychology.
Learning outcomes
After completing the course, the student will - be familiar with general psychological terminology, - be able to define and discuss the subject of psychology as a science from various perspectives (approaches) and methods of knowledge, - understand the position of psychology in relation to pedagogy, - become aware of the biological and social determination of the psyche, - be able to discuss basic psychological phenomena (processes, states and properties), - be able to discuss psychological trends and selected theories of personality, - be able to give some examples from their own experience and pedagogical practice and explain them based on psychological knowledge, - became aware of the importance and limits of psychology.
Syllabus
  • 1. Subject of psychology and main concepts: psyche. Psychical phenomena and states, consciousness and unconsciousness. 2. Psychological disciplines. What is scientific and unscientific, psychological myths. Methods of psychology and requirements for psychological tests, their connection with psychodiagnostics. Limits of psychodiagnostics. 3. History of psychology, psychological directions and main representatives (reflexology and behaviorism, depth directions - individual, analytical psychology and psychoanalysis, humanistic psychology, cognitive directions, etc.). Connection of psychological directions with psychotherapy and counseling and their possible use in pedagogical practice. 4. Cognitive processes (sensing, perception, memory, attention, thinking and speech) and their importance for learning processes. 5. Emotional states and processes. Division and properties of emotions. Perception of emotions. Management and modeling of emotions. 6. Emotions as the basis of motivation, selected theories of motivation, performance motivation. 7. Frustration and stress. Health psychology and psychohygiene - selected concepts (vulnerability, resilience...). Application to pedagogical practice. 8. Voluntary processes. Self-regulation. Locus of Control. 9. The concept of personality. How it is possible to approach the description of personality (lexical analysis, factors). 10. Selected theories of personality - their importance for counseling and psychotherapy. 11. Basics of psychopathology - main personality disorders. 12. Self-knowledge, self-concept and personality development. Possibilities / methods of personality development.
Literature
    required literature
  • Blatný, M. Psychologie osobnosti. Grada, 2010
  • PLHÁKOVÁ, Alena. Učebnice obecné psychologie. Vyd. 1. Praha: Academia, 2004, 472 s. ISBN 9788020014993. info
    recommended literature
  • NAKONEČNÝ, Milan. Motivace lidského chování. 3rd ed. Praha: Academia, 2014. info
  • SLEZÁČKOVÁ, Alena. Pozitivní psychologie v kontextu aktuálních otázek výchovy a vzdělávání (Positive psychology in context of current issues of education). 2011. info
  • SMÉKAL, Vladimír. Pozvání do psychologie osobnosti : člověk v zrcadle vědomí a jednání. Druhé, opravené vydání. Brno: Barrister & Principal, 2004, 523 stran. ISBN 8086598659. info
  • VÁGNEROVÁ, Marie. Psychopatologie pro pomáhající profese. Vyd. 3., rozš. a přeprac. Praha: Portál, 2004, 870 s. ISBN 8071788023. info
Teaching methods
Lectures with discussions, flipped learning.
Assessment methods
Preparation for lessons (reading assigned texts), attendance in lessons 70%, activity in lessons, participation in the discussion forum in ELF, continuous small tests in ELF. Final exam.
Language of instruction
Czech
Study support
https://elf.phil.muni.cz/
Further comments (probably available only in Czech)
The course is taught annually.
The course is taught every week.
Listed among pre-requisites of other courses
Teacher's information
https://elf.phil.muni.cz
Support in ELF. https://elf.phil.muni.cz
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