FSpS:e070 Hacking the stress system - Course Information

e070 Hacking the stress system: the stress response as an adaptive trait that can work for or against you

Extent and Intensity

1/0/0. 3 credit(s). Type of Completion: zk (examination).
In-person direct teaching

Teacher(s)

David William Mac Gillavry, Ph.D., M.A. (lecturer)

Guaranteed by

David William Mac Gillavry, Ph.D., M.A.
Department of Physical Education and Social Sciences – Faculty of Sports Studies
Contact Person: Ing. Zuzana Florianová
Supplier department: Department of Physical Education and Social Sciences – Faculty of Sports Studies

Timetable

Tue 15:00–15:50 E34/203 - seminární místnost

Prerequisites (in Czech)

BOZP_OK(bozp_po_stud_fsps)

Course Enrolment Limitations

The course is only offered to the students of the study fields the course is directly associated with.

The capacity limit for the course is 10 student(s).
Current registration and enrolment status: enrolled: 15/10, only registered: 2/10

fields of study / plans the course is directly associated with

there are 13 fields of study the course is directly associated with, display

Abstract

The course aims to provide students with a comprehensive understanding of the evolution and function of the stress response, as well as practical methods to optimise this response for better performance.

Learning outcomes

The course aims to provide students with a comprehensive understanding of the evolution and function of the stress response, as well as practical methods to optimise this response for better performance. Students will learn that the stress response is a double edged sword that can be incredibly harmful to both short-term performance and long-term health, or a tool with which to tackle complex problems under time pressure. After successful completion of the course students will have a both a theoretical basis and a set of practically applicable techniques, with which the stress response can be optimised for performance in both oneself and others.

Key topics

• Introduction to the course and the evolutionary basics of stress (L)
• Social stress, reproduction and hierarchy (L)
• On the genetics and epigenetics of stress resilience / sensitivity (L)
• On the intersection between culture and stress (L)
• Your stress in a wider context (S)
• Why stress makes you stupid, most of the time (L)
• Depression, PTSD and anxiety (L)
• On the psychology of lying, deceit, and how stress makes it all much worse (L)
• What stresses you and why? (S)
• Lifestyle and stress I: Nutrition & Sleep (L)
• Lifestyle and stress II: Sport & Social connections (L)
• How can you optimise resilience? (S)
• Optimising the stress response for greater performance (L)
• Practical solutions for stress management (S)

Approaches, practices, and methods used in teaching

lectures, class discussion, practical training, a term paper

Method of verifying learning outcomes and course completion requirements

Be here, be active & be prepared :)
A term paper:
Min 8 pages (2.0 spacing)
Proper bibliography and referencing (preferably APA)
Subject of your choosing as long as it relates to stress and peak performance

Language of instruction

English

Further comments (probably available only in Czech)

Study Materials
The course is taught each semester.
Information on course enrolment limitations: The course capacity is 10 FSpS and 10 exchange students.

• Enrolment Statistics (recent)
  
• Permalink: https://is.muni.cz/course/fsps/spring2026/e070