psychologism: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
LowFormal, Academic
Quick answer
What does “psychologism” mean?
The practice of explaining phenomena, especially in philosophy or logic, in terms of psychological principles.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
The practice of explaining phenomena, especially in philosophy or logic, in terms of psychological principles.
Often used pejoratively to refer to the excessive reduction of non-psychological domains, such as logic or mathematics, to psychology.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant differences in meaning or usage; spelling and pronunciation follow regional norms (e.g., behaviour vs. behavior in related contexts).
Connotations
Similar in both variants, often used critically in academic discourse to denote an overreliance on psychology.
Frequency
Equally rare in British and American English, primarily encountered in philosophical or specialized texts.
Grammar
How to Use “psychologism” in a Sentence
the psychologism of [domain, e.g., logic]accuse [someone] of psychologismpsychologism in [field]Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “psychologism” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- He often psychologises historical events, attributing them to individual minds.
American English
- She psychologizes social trends, focusing on cognitive biases.
adverb
British English
- They analyse the text psychologistically, ignoring its structural aspects.
American English
- He argued psychologistically, emphasizing subconscious drives over logic.
adjective
British English
- His psychologistic viewpoint reduces all behaviour to mental states.
American English
- Their psychologistic perspective criticizes the overemphasis on cognitive factors.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Rarely used; not applicable in standard business contexts.
Academic
Common in philosophy, psychology, and critical theory; used to discuss methodological reductionism.
Everyday
Almost never used in casual conversation.
Technical
Employed in specialized discussions in logic, philosophy of mind, and social sciences.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “psychologism”
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “psychologism”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “psychologism”
- Mispronouncing as /saɪkoʊlədʒɪzəm/ or misspelling as 'psycologism'.
- Confusing it with 'psychology' without recognizing its critical or reductionist connotation.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, it is a rare and specialized term primarily found in academic or philosophical contexts.
Rarely; it is usually employed critically to highlight reductionism or methodological overreach in disciplines like logic or philosophy.
Psychology is the scientific discipline studying the mind and behavior, while psychologism refers to the practice, often deemed excessive, of explaining non-psychological phenomena through psychological principles.
Mainly in philosophy, logic, philosophy of science, and critical theory, where it is debated as a potential fallacy or methodological issue.
The practice of explaining phenomena, especially in philosophy or logic, in terms of psychological principles.
Psychologism is usually formal, academic in register.
Psychologism: in British English it is pronounced /saɪˈkɒlədʒɪzəm/, and in American English it is pronounced /saɪˈkɑːlədʒɪzəm/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of 'psychology' + '-ism', meaning an ideology or practice overly focused on psychological explanations.
Conceptual Metaphor
PSYCHOLOGY IS A LENS, implying that psychologism views all phenomena through a psychological filter.
Practice
Quiz
What is the primary meaning of 'psychologism'?