We explore social cohesion in transforming Czechia and the world.

What kinds of bonds do we have with one another? And aren’t we, in a way, facing everything on our own?
The digitalised world offers countless ways to connect, yet at the same time, it traps us in opinion bubbles, and many relationships grow weaker. The PRINS project seeks ways to harness both individualisation and togetherness for the benefit of our society.

About the Project

The PRINS project examines how individualisation is transforming Czech society. With an emphasis on an interdisciplinary approach, it connects fields such as psychology, sociology, and computer science to better understand the impact of individualisation on family relationships, mental health, social cohesion, and research methodology. The project’s findings aim to address current challenges, such as societal polarisation, the digitalisation of mental health care, and modern methods of high-quality data collection.

The project brings together leading Czech researchers from five major institutions: Masaryk University, Charles University, the Czech Academy of Sciences, Brno University of Technology, and Mendel University. Through close collaboration among internationally recognised experts, the project delivers new insights and tools that can be applied in both policy and practice.

More about the Project

The project is carried out by

0 months

project runtime

+0 years

of sustainability

0 institutions

networked by the project

0 mln CZK

for social sciences

Research Topics

Family and Intergenerational Relationships Polarisation of Society

Mental Health of Society Modern Measurement and Data

What's New

Why Are Winnetou and Mirek Dušín No Longer Today’s Heroes? Pavel Pospěch Interviewed by Seznam Zprávy

22 Jul 2026

Pavel Pospěch, sociologist at the Faculty of Social Studies, Masaryk University, recently spoke with Seznam Zprávy about changing ideas of heroism, individualism, and the culture of autonomy in contemporary society. Drawing on insights from his new book Lonely Heroes, he explains why today's audiences are more drawn to characters with inner conflicts and personal struggles than to flawless heroes such as Winnetou or Mirek Dušín. The interview also explores the declining influence of institutions and how the growing emphasis on authenticity and individual responsibility can contribute to feelings of uncertainty and loneliness.

The article is available in Czech.

Read

18 May 2026

“We still need physical contact; a screen cannot replace it,” Anna Ševčíková told Seznam Zprávy

Our colleague Anna Ševčíková, in a new interview for Seznam Zprávy, explores how modern technologies are reshaping the dynamics of romantic relationships. The interview discusses the impact of online communication on intimacy between partners, examines the phenomenon of sexting, and explains why physical contact remains an irreplaceable pillar of closeness even in the digital age.

The article is available in Czech.

12 May 2026

Small apartments are no longer a stepping stone—they are increasingly becoming a long-term standard, says Jana Závodská

Jana Závodská from the Department of Sociology at the Faculty of Social Studies, Masaryk University, highlights shifting realities of housing in an article published in Respekt. Changes in the housing market are leading families to reconsider their expectations regarding privacy, comfort, and everyday household functioning. Shared spaces, temporary arrangements, and compromises are becoming a common part of daily life. What impact does this situation have on family relationships, working from home, or decisions about having children?

The article is available in Czech.

10 Apr 2026

What is the role of great-grandparenthood in today's family?

Sociologist Zuzana Talašová (MUNI, MENDELU) presented the findings of her research at the British Sociological Association conference in Manchester. The research shows that great-grandparenthood is not merely a matter of age or biological position in a family tree, but represents a specific family role that, while it exists, remains socially almost invisible. Nevertheless, it is precisely great-grandparents who play an important role in maintaining family cohesion – not through everyday care, but through rituals, their presence, and the symbolic bridging of individual generations.