PSX_511 Psychology of Mental Health and Well-being

Faculty of Arts
Spring 2016
Extent and Intensity
2/0. 4 credit(s). Type of Completion: k (colloquium).
Teacher(s)
PhDr. Pavel Humpolíček, Ph.D. (lecturer)
doc. PhDr. Alena Slezáčková, Ph.D. (lecturer)
Guaranteed by
PhDr. Pavel Humpolíček, Ph.D.
Department of Psychology – Faculty of Arts
Supplier department: Department of Psychology – Faculty of Arts
Timetable
Thu 9:10–10:45 C33
Course Enrolment Limitations
The course is offered to students of any study field.
The capacity limit for the course is 175 student(s).
Current registration and enrolment status: enrolled: 0/175, only registered: 0/175, only registered with preference (fields directly associated with the programme): 0/175
Course objectives
The aim of the course is to provide students with key scientific findings on mental health and wellbeing and suggest their applications in daily life. Students will be introduced in the science of Positive psychology and Psychology of Mental Health - their background, main research topics and findings, and practical interventions for enhancing quality of life. At the end of the course students should be able to understand not only the effects of stressors on mental health, but also understand the importance of positive mindset, i.e. positive thinking (optimistic, hopeful, creative and flexible thinking), positive emotions and character strengths for improving well-being and flourishing of the individual.
Syllabus
  • 1. Introduction to Positive Psychology and Mental hygiene
  • 2. Mental health, Well-being, Quality of life
  • 3. Self-knowledge and self-control, methods of self-knowledge
  • 4. Stress and Coping strategies
  • 5. Self-regulation and Mind control
  • 6. Positive thinking: Hope and Optimism
  • 7. Power of positive emotions.
  • 8. Character strengths and virtues
  • 9. Psychosomatics and Mental health
  • 10. Introduction to Relaxation techniques
  • 11. Practical interventions for enhancing mental health and well-being
Literature
    recommended literature
  • Diener, E., Biswas-Diener, R. (2008). Happiness. Unlocking the Mysteries of Psychological Wealth. Blackwell Publishing.
  • SLEZÁČKOVÁ, Alena. Průvodce pozitivní psychologií : nové přístupy, aktuální poznatky, praktické aplikace. Vyd. 1. Praha: Grada, 2012, 304 s. ISBN 9788024735078. URL info
    not specified
  • Snyder, C.R., Lopez, S. J. (Eds) (2002). Handbook of positive psychology. New York. Oxford University Press. ISBN 0-19-513533-4.
  • Linley, P.A., Joseph, S. (2004). Positive psychology in practice. New Yersey: John Wiley & Sons. ISBN 0-471-45906-2
  • Fredrickson, B.L. (2009). Positivity. New York: Three Rivers Press.
  • Seligman, M.E.P. (2011). Flourish : A Visionary New Understanding of Happiness and Well-being. New York: Free Press.
  • Peterson, C. ( 2006). A primer in positive psychology. Oxford University Press, New York
  • Csikszentmihalyi,M. (2006). A life worth living. Oxford University Press, New York 2006
  • Snyder, C.R., & Lopez, S.J . (Eds.). (2007). Positive Psychology. The Scientific and Practical Exploration of Human Strengths. Thousand Oaks: Sage Publications.
  • Lyubomirsky, S. (2007). The How of Happiness: A Scientific Approach to Getting the Life You Want. New York: Penguin Press.
Teaching methods
Lectures, class discussion.
Assessment methods
The course is completed by colloquium. Active participation (75% presence) of students during lectures and final Seminar paper with students´ reflection of the subject are required.
A brief Seminar paper (essay, cca 1500 words) should consist of your reflection of selected topic covered within the course, for example:
Which methods of Self-knowledge do I use and what are the benefits of them?; What kind of coping strategies do I use in the stressful situations and how can I do better?; What is the importance of positive emotions in my life and how can I increase my Positivity ratio?; What is the role of optimism and hope in my life?; What are my character strengths and how can I use them to make a better version of myself?; How can relaxation techniques improve my well-being?; Which practical interventions for enhancing mental health and well-being have I used and how it affected my wellbeing? etc.).
Also, a short subjective evaluation of the whole course of Psychology of Mental Health and Well-being should be part of the Seminar paper.
Warning: Any kind of plagiarism is undesirable and such paper will be strictly rejected.
Please insert your final Seminar paper into the file "Seminar papers" (Homework Vault - Study materials of PSX_511 - Information system of MU) until June 30, 2016.
Language of instruction
English
Further comments (probably available only in Czech)
The course is taught annually.
Information on course enrolment limitations: Only for english speaking students.
The course is also listed under the following terms Autumn 2014, Spring 2015, Autumn 2015, Autumn 2016, Spring 2017, Autumn 2017, Spring 2018, Autumn 2018, Spring 2019, Autumn 2019, Spring 2020.
  • Enrolment Statistics (Spring 2016, recent)
  • Permalink: https://is.muni.cz/course/phil/spring2016/PSX_511