UPPVJP023 Social Pathology and Prevention in Seniors

Faculty of Public Policies in Opava
Summer 2025
Extent and Intensity
8/8/0. 5 credit(s). Recommended Type of Completion: zk (examination). Other types of completion: z (credit).
Teacher(s)
PhDr. Vladimíra Kocourková, Ph.D. (lecturer)
Mgr. Robin Brzobohatý, Ph.D. (seminar tutor)
Guaranteed by
doc. PhDr. Jitka Skopalová, Ph.D.
Institute of Pedagogical and Psychological Sciences – Faculty of Public Policies in Opava
Contact Person: PhDr. Edita Ondřejová, Ph.D.
Prerequisites (in Czech)
FAKULTA(FVP) && TYP_STUDIA(B) && FORMA(P)
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 aim is to get acquainted with the problems of the senior population in the context of social pathology (understanding of the content and nature of social pathology in general, creation of knowledge in basic terminology, familiarization with traditional and modern theories of social pathology, but above all their application with the senior age). Introduction to the issue of theoretical aspects of social pathology and of social deviance and social pathology in the elderly present in contemporary society (addictive behaviour, suicidality, crime, homelessness, etc.).
Learning outcomes
Professional Knowledge: Students will acquire theoretical knowledge of current scientific approaches to the issues of social pathology or social deviance, they will be able to understand the terminology, determine the theoretical bases of the etiology of social pathology in seniors and towards seniors.
Professional Skills: Students demonstrate the ability to identify, diagnose and take possible measures against the discussed socially undesirable phenomena in the elderly. Students are well versed in issues of social deviance in general, but also in the issues of social aspects of deviant behaviour in everyday life of seniors.

General qualification: Students can explain the biological, psychological and social aspects of negative behaviour in the lives of seniors with consequences for individuals and families of seniors. Students will be able to formulate a qualified opinion not only on the seniors producing pathological behaviour, but also to the elderly as victims of crime. It is expected that students will be equipped with the necessary theoretical knowledge and application skills.
Syllabus
  • 1. Interpretation of basic concepts - social pathology, social deviance, other related concepts, anomie (adaptive methods)
  • 2. Elements of social deviance (social norm, social values, social institutions, personality of the perpetrator, social relations)
  • 3. Types and functions of social deviance in the society
  • 4. Biological, psychological and sociological theories of deviant behaviour - the most important representatives and approaches
  • 5. Risks of the senior population. Problem senior; problem behaviour (areas and causes)
  • 6. Addiction - alcoholism, drug addiction and others.
  • 7. Non-substance addiction - gambling, oniomania, dependence on demonstration sessions, hoarding
  • 8. Seniors and groups with sectarian features
  • 9. Suicidality in seniors
  • 10. The issue of violence and aggression in the elderly an towards seniors (EAN syndrome)
  • 11. Eating disorders in the elderly population
  • 12. The media and their impact on seniors
  • 13. Poverty and homelessness among seniors
Literature
    required literature
  • FISCHER, S., ŠKODA, J. Sociální patologie - Závažné sociálně patologické jevy, příčiny, prevence, možnosti řešení. Praha: Grada, 2014. ISBN 978-80-247-5046-0. info
  • SKOPALOVÁ, J. Sociální patologie a prevence u seniorů [online]. Opava: Slezská univerzita v Opavě, Fakulta veřejných politik v Opavě, 2019. Dostupné z: https://elearning.slu.cz/course/index.php?categoryid=45
  • URBAN, L., DUBSKÝ, J. Sociální deviace. Plzeň: vydavatelství a nakladatelství Aleš Čeněk, 2012. ISBN 978-80-7380-397-1. info
  • Urban, Lukáš, Dubský, Josef a Bajura, Jan. Sociální deviace. 2., rozš. vyd. Plzeň: Vydavatelství a nakladatelství Aleš Čeněk, 2012. 231 s. ISBN 978-80-7380-397-1.
    recommended literature
  • GOFFMAN, E. Stigma: poznámky k problému zvládání narušené identity. Praha: Slon, 2003. ISBN 80-86429-21-0. info
  • HAUKE, M. Zvládání problémových situací se seniory: nejen v pečovatelských službách. Praha: Grada, 2014. ISBN 978-80-247-5216-7.
  • JANIŠ, Kamil, Jitka SKOPALOVÁ and Kamil JANIŠ. Slovník vybraných pojmů k oblasti prevence rizikového chování (A glossary of selected concepts in the field of prevention of risk behaviour). 1. vydání. Opava: Slezská univerzita, 2017, 144 pp. Fakulta veřejných politik. ISBN 978-80-7510-237-9. info
  • SKOPALOVÁ, J. Sociální patologie, sociální deviace nebo rizikové chování? In: A. JŮVOVÁ a kol., eds.Pedagogická propedeutika. Olomouc: Univerzita Palackého, 2013, s. 115–122. ISBN 978-80-86768-58-8.
  • GIDDENS, A. Sociologie. Praha: Agro, 1999. ISBN 80-7203-124-4. info
  • ONDREJKOVIČ, P. (ed.). Sociálna patológia. Bratislava: VEDA, 2009. ISBN 978-80-224-1074-8. info
  • SCHEINOST, M. et al. Kriminalita očima kriminologů. Praha: Institut pro kriminologii a sociální prev, 2010. ISBN 978-80-7338-096-0. info
  • SKOPALOVÁ, J. SOCIÁLNÍ PATOLOGIE [online]. Opava: Slezská univerzita v Opavě, Fakulta veřejných politik v Opavě, 2016. Dostupné z: https://elearning.fvp.slu.cz/mod/folder/view.php?id=554.
  • ŠPATENKOVÁ, N. a kol. Krizová intervence pro praxi. Praha: Grada Publishing, 2011. ISBN 978-80-247-2624-3. info
    not specified
  • VENGLAŘOVÁ,M. Problematické situace v péči o seniory. Příručka pro zdravotnické a sociální pracovníky. Praha:Grada Publishing, 2007. ISBN 978-80-247-2170-5. info
Teaching methods
Monological (reading, lecture, briefing)end Dialogical, Presentations.
Assessment methods
Examination, written test from the required literature and lectures in the IS environment. Being active in the seminar and completing the assignments is a prerequisite for being able to participate in the exam. Attendance at seminars is compulsory. Absence (up to 25%) for a serious reason must be excused to the seminar instructor, who will assess the situation.
Language of instruction
Czech
Further Comments
The course can also be completed outside the examination period.
The course is also listed under the following terms Winter 2019, Accreditation winter, Winter 2020, Summer 2024.
  • Enrolment Statistics (Summer 2025, recent)
  • Permalink: https://is.slu.cz/course/fvp/summer2025/UPPVJP023