psychologism

[ sahy-kol-uh-jiz-uhm ]

noun

1. emphasis upon psychological factors in the development of a theory, as in history or philosophy.
2. a term or concept of psychology or psychoanalysis, especially when used in ordinary conversation or a nontechnical context.

psychologism

/ saɪˈkɒləˌdʒɪzəm /

noun

1. the belief in the importance and relevance of psychology for other sciences
2. the belief that psychology is the basis for all other natural and social sciences

Derived Forms

• psyˌcholoˈgistic, adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of psychologism¹

First recorded in 1855–60; psycholog(y) + -ism

Example Sentences

That of hysteria encouraged a tendency to indulge in excessive psychologism.

From Nature

Unable to portray Assange as anything but sui generis, the film then seeks to explain him with a cringe-worthy psychologism: “Only someone so obsessed with his own secrets could come up with a way to reveal everyone else’s.”

From Slate

Of course it was not the first time in the history of civilization that materialism was replaced by dualism, that biologism was replaced by psychologism; and it was also not the first time that the development of civilization led again beyond this point: that is, led beyond the psychologizing period.

From Project Gutenberg

It is the positive, the non-malicious element in their speculation; and in the midst of their psychologism in logic and their egotism about nature and history, consciousness seems to be the one province of being which they have thrown true light upon.

From Project Gutenberg

The psychologism with which the pragmatists started seems to be passing in this way, in the very effort to formulate it pragmatically, into something which, whatever it may be, is certainly not psychologism.

From Project Gutenberg