-ology, -logy, -ologist, -logist
The word -ology is a back-formation from the names of certain disciplines. The -logy element basically means "the study of ____". Such words are formed from Greek or Latin roots with the terminal -logy derived from the Greek suffix -λογια (-logia), speaking, from λεγειν (legein), "to speak".
The suffix -ology is considered to be misleading sometimes as when the "o" is actually part of the word stem that receives the -logy ending; such as, bio + logy.
Through the years -ology and -logy have come to mean, "study of" or "science of" and either of these suffixes often utilize the form of -ologist, "one who (whatever the preceding element refers to)".
The examples shown in this unit represent just a small fraction of the many words that exist in various dictionaries.
psychopathology
(s) (noun), psychopathologies
(pl)
The branch of medicine which deals with the causes and nature of mental illnesses: Psychopathology includes the research into the causes and development of psychiatric disorders, as well as abnormal and maladaptive behavior or mental activity.
psychopharmacology
1. The use of medical drugs to treat mental and psychological disorders.
2. The science of drug-behavior relationships; which is also known by some specialists as neuropsychopharmacology.
3. The study of drugs that affect mental and behavioral activity; such as, psycholeptic agents.
4. The study of the action of drugs on psychological functions and mental states.
5. The use of drugs to modify psychological functions and mental states.
psychophysiologist
Someone who studies psychophysiology.
psychophysiology
The science of the relationship between psychological and physiological processes; e.g., conscious elements of autonomic nervous system activity activated by emotion.
psychosociology
The study of subjects, issues, and problems common to psychology and sociology.
psychotechnological
The body of knowledge, theories, and techniques developed for understanding and influencing individual, group, and societal behavior in specified situations.
psychotechnology
The area of study concerned with the practical application of tested knowledge about the human mind or brain.
ptochologist
(s) (noun), ptochologists
(pl)
Those who specialize in the study of people who are extremely poor: Ptochologists are finding an increase in the number of people who have been affected by poverty and are existing in shelters (temporary housing for homeless or displaced persons) or on the streets with few or no possessions.
ptochology
(s) (noun), ptochologies
(pl)
The scientific study of pauperism (extremely poor conditions), unemployment, etc.: As a result of poor economic conditions, there are some people who have become specialists in ptochology in order to determine the degree to which so many people have become victims of poverty.
public archaeology, public archeology
(s) (noun) (no pl)
A branch of archeeology dealing with the impact of construction and development on archaeological sites and laws enacted to lessen the threat: In the U.S., public archaeology has helped to create the industries of salvage archaeology or cultural resource management (in the U.K., it is called "rescue archaeology").
