PragueWeek-Long Study Tour | Psychology Program

The week-long Study Tour to Prague forms an integral part of the Positive Psychology curriculum as it allows you to see how theories learned in the classroom can be applied in various situations and across cultures.

Up until 1989, the Czech Republic was still a part of the communist ‘Eastern Block.’ The country is unique, in that it underwent the non-violent ‘Velvet Revolution,’ which resulted in political change.  Today, it is recognized as the first former member of the ‘Eastern Block’ to achieve the status of a ‘developed country’ based on its economic growth and democratic change and is considered one of the most peaceful countries in Europe.

Research based on political changes in Europe has shown that evidence of strong democracy and political transparency are associated with increased psychological well-being.  In spite of that research, however, the Czech population has rated their life satisfaction and subjective well-being as lower than average, whereas Denmark has ranked as number one. You will use the Czech Republic as a comparative study to explore the historical and current reasons for this discrepancy. Through lectures, interviews, and meeting with researchers and practitioners, you will investigate how topics within positive psychology are examined in a country whose citizens have experienced both communism and being part of the modern day EU.

To help you contextualize your studies and further understand Czech culture, you will visit museums, historic sites, and cultural landmarks.