The Psychology Research Institute (INPSY) is a specialized research institute at the Faculty of Social Studies at Masaryk University. Our research focus stems from a long-lasting interest in the topics of developmental, social and educational psychology, psychology of personality and psychology in the media. Strong methodological and statistical background allows us to perform quality basic and applied research and develop new psychodiagnostic methods.

We cooperate with the Department of Psychology at the FSS, Masaryk University. We participate in the teaching of students and at the same time, create conditions and opportunities for their involvement in existing research projects.

History of the Institute Open Science Collaborate with us

Research Teams

Health, Media, and Sexuality

Measurement in Psychology

Gifted Children

Citizenship and Democracy

Early Development, Parenthood, and Attachment

Adolescents, Young Adults, and Identity

Center for Psychotherapy Research

News

Love, Likes, and Loneliness: The Upsides and Downsides of Gay Dating Apps

NewsFor parents and teachersINPSY in media

Gay dating apps have become an essential tool in Czechia for queer people to meet, seek relationships, and find community - especially where safe offline spaces are lacking. In a new article for Brno Daily, Ondřej Musil focuses on how these apps affect the lives of their users and shows why, for many queer people, apps are often the only way to meet people, but also a source of frustration and loneliness. The article describes not only the benefits, such as anonymity and the possibility of quick connections, but also the risks in the form of discrimination, pressure to look a certain way, and addiction.

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NewsFresh studiesFor practitioners

When it's enough that “someone” is on the other side: what research has shown about online crisis chats

The COVID pandemic has brought a huge increase in interest in online psychological support. Many people who would previously have only considered in-person therapy are now turning to chat or video calls. A study based on Katarína Azzamová's thesis, supervised by Zbyněk Vybíral from INPSY/Center for Psychotherapy Research, focused on the experiences of three women who used a chat crisis line in their most difficult moments when they were considering self-harm or suicide.

NewsFresh studiesFor practitioners

Psychotherapy as a double-edged sword: how to investigate its negative effects?

Psychotherapy is a widely recognized tool for promoting mental health, and its positive effects are well documented. In recent years, however, professional attention has increasingly turned to its other side—namely, its potential risks and negative effects. Understanding the negative effects of psychotherapy and reaching a consensus on their assessment would greatly improve the way these negative effects are addressed and contribute to better care for clients in general. A new review article published in the prestigious journal Nature Reviews Psychology, to which Zbyněk Vybíral from INPSY/Center for Psychotherapy Research contributed, reflects the trend in the growth of research into the negative effects of psychotherapy and offers a comprehensive view of what is actually meant by "negative effects."

NewsFresh studiesFor parents and teachers

Sexual health in mature age: Why problems often remain unresolved

Sexuality remains an important part of human life also in older age – it contributes to relationship satisfaction, well-being, and overall quality of life. Although research shows that most people maintain an interest in intimacy even after the age of 50, various problems are more common during this period, such as a decrease in sexual desire, erectile dysfunction, or pain during sexual intercourse. Despite this, people of mature age rarely seek professional help – the reasons for this "silence" around sexual difficulties have been little researched to date. A new study, conducted as part of the PRINS project, has therefore focused on this gap, with significant contributions from INPSY members Gabriela Gore-Gorszewska (the lead researcher) and Anna Ševčíková.

NewsConferences, lectures, and collaboration

INPSY members attended the European Developmental Psychology Conference in Vilnius

Lukas Blinka, Adam Klocek, Jana Firklová, and Linda Oweisová actively participated in this year's European Developmental Psychology Conference, which took place in Lithuania. Lukas accepted an invitation to be one of the main speakers at the conference and, in his lecture on Youth Digital Gaming: Excessive or Expected?, he talked about the role digital technologies play in the lives of today's children and how to distinguish normal consumption of digital media from excessive or problematic consumption. Adam, Jana, and Linda also actively participated and each presented their own contribution at the conference.