psychic energy: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
LowSpecialized, New Age, Psychology
Quick answer
What does “psychic energy” mean?
A hypothetical life force or mental energy thought to drive mental processes, consciousness, and paranormal phenomena.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A hypothetical life force or mental energy thought to drive mental processes, consciousness, and paranormal phenomena.
The personal mental or emotional strength, vitality, or focus one can apply to a task, often described as feeling drained or boosted.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Usage is similar. 'Psychic' is pronounced differently (see IPA). The concept is marginally more common in US self-help and spiritual contexts.
Connotations
In both varieties, it carries connotations of alternative spirituality or pop psychology. In academic psychology, it is viewed as an outdated or non-scientific term.
Frequency
Very low frequency in general corpora. Slightly higher in niche spiritual/self-help texts.
Grammar
How to Use “psychic energy” in a Sentence
[Subject] has/expends/channels [psychic energy][Psychic energy] is required for [gerund/noun]a drain on [possessive] psychic energyVocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “psychic energy” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- She felt her resolve psychically energised by the supportive words.
- The medium claimed to psychically energise the space.
American English
- She felt her resolve psychically energized by the supportive words.
- The healer aimed to psychically energize the group.
adverb
British English
- He worked psychically-energetically on the complex problem.
American English
- She approached the task psychically-energetically.
adjective
British English
- She was in a highly psychic-energetic state after the meditation.
American English
- The workshop promised a more psychic-energetic lifestyle.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Rare. Might appear in informal talk about workplace stress: 'This merger is draining our team's psychic energy.'
Academic
Mostly historical, referring to early psychoanalytic theory (Freud, Jung) or anthropological studies of belief systems.
Everyday
Informal metaphor for mental stamina: 'I don't have the psychic energy to argue about this.'
Technical
In parapsychology and some spiritual practices, denotes a specific force believed to enable extrasensory perception.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “psychic energy”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “psychic energy”
- Confusing 'psychic' (relating to the mind or paranormal) with 'physical' (body). Incorrect: 'After the gym, my psychic energy was low.' (Should be 'physical energy').
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, it is not recognised as a measurable, scientific quantity in contemporary psychology or physics. It is a theoretical construct from early psychoanalysis and a common term in spiritual and paranormal discourse.
Generally, no. Modern academic psychology avoids the term due to its lack of empirical basis and its association with pseudoscience. Terms like 'cognitive resources,' 'attentional capacity,' or 'mental effort' are preferred.
'Motivation' is the desire or willingness to do something. 'Psychic energy' is often used metaphorically as the internal 'fuel' or stamina that enables motivated action. One can be motivated but lack the psychic energy to act (e.g., due to exhaustion).
In everyday metaphorical use, chronic stress is often described as depleting one's psychic energy, leading to feelings of burnout, mental fatigue, and reduced capacity for concentration or emotional regulation.
A hypothetical life force or mental energy thought to drive mental processes, consciousness, and paranormal phenomena.
Psychic energy is usually specialized, new age, psychology in register.
Psychic energy: in British English it is pronounced /ˌsaɪ.kɪk ˈen.ə.dʒi/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˌsaɪ.kɪk ˈen.ɚ.dʒi/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “Running on empty (psychic energy)”
- “Burned out (psychic energy depleted)”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of PSYCHIC ENERGY as the 'battery' for your mind and spirit, not your body.
Conceptual Metaphor
MENTAL ACTIVITY IS A FLUID/ENERGY IN A CONTAINER (e.g., 'drained,' 'filled up,' 'channel,' 'reservoir').
Practice
Quiz
In which context is the term 'psychic energy' used most appropriately?