psych-, psycho-, -psyche, -psychic, -psychical, -psychically
(Greek: mind, spirit, consciousness; mental processes; the human soul; breath of life; literally, "that which breathes" or "breathing")
A prefix that is normally used with elements of Greek origin, psych- affects the meanings of hundreds of words.
Etymologically, this element includes such meanings as, breath, to breathe, life, soul, spirit, mind, consciousness.
The research of mental processes in relation to their timing and duration: In his medical studies Tony thought that he would take a course in psychochronometry in order to learn more about the human brain and its cognitive performances.
A condition in which a person is in a state of mental stupor or who has less ability to respond mentally or physically.
psychocortical
A reference to the cerebral cortex as the seat of sensory, motor, and psychic functions.
psychoculture
1. The psychological characteristics of individuals.
2. The relation between the mentality of individuals and the cultures in which they live.
2. The relation between the mentality of individuals and the cultures in which they live.
psychodiagnosis
1. Any method used to discover the factors which underlie behavior, especially malajusted or abnormal behavior.
2. The use of psychological tests to assist in diagnosing diseases, especially mental illness.
3. The evaluation of the personality of an individual by a systematic appraisal made of spontaneously expressed and specially elicited reactions, most often undertaken for the purpose of assessing any serious unbalance in the personality or to predict possible future reactions to severe stress or threat to the organization of the personality.
2. The use of psychological tests to assist in diagnosing diseases, especially mental illness.
3. The evaluation of the personality of an individual by a systematic appraisal made of spontaneously expressed and specially elicited reactions, most often undertaken for the purpose of assessing any serious unbalance in the personality or to predict possible future reactions to severe stress or threat to the organization of the personality.
psychodiagnostics
1. The use of psychological testing as an aid in diagnosing mental disorders.
2. The observation and interpretation of externally observable actions of an individual, such as voice inflection, gestures, and body posture for the purpose of drawing inferences about the personality of that person.
3. A term used especially by Swiss and German writers for Rorschach Test.
2. The observation and interpretation of externally observable actions of an individual, such as voice inflection, gestures, and body posture for the purpose of drawing inferences about the personality of that person.
3. A term used especially by Swiss and German writers for Rorschach Test.
psychodometry
A measurement of the speed of mental action.
psychodrama
1. A form of psychotherapy in which a patient acts or performs extempore with or in front of fellow patients and therapists in a way that dramatizes the patient&$146;s problems or difficulties; an extempore psychotherapeutic play of this kind.
2. Patients act out assigned roles and, in so doing, are able to gain insight into their own mental dissturbances.
2. Patients act out assigned roles and, in so doing, are able to gain insight into their own mental dissturbances.
psychodynamics
1. The scientific study of mental action or force.
2. The description of the development and workings of the mind, with emphasis on how the mind's hypothesized energies are distributed in the course of its adaptational maneuvers.
2. The description of the development and workings of the mind, with emphasis on how the mind's hypothesized energies are distributed in the course of its adaptational maneuvers.
psychodysleptic
Inducing a dreamlike or delusional mental state; hallucinatory.
psychoendocrinology
The study of the relationship of the endocrine system to psychiatric disorders, in particular the system's potential as a site of manifestation of biochemical abnormalities that have been implicated as predisposing factors to mental illness, as in thyrotoxiocosis (hyperthyroidism condition) or the Cushing syndrome (syndrome resulting from hypersecretion of the adrenal cortex that results in glucocorticoids).
The study of the psychological aspects of sense perceptions: After completing his internship in dermatology, Dr. Peters decided to specialize in the field of psychoesthetics in order to better understand the psychological aspects of illnesses.
psychogalvanic
Referring to changes in the electrical resistance of the skin that result from either sensory or ideational stimulation (ideation is the process of forming ideas or mental images and examining their relationships).
psychogalvanometer
1. A device for determining changes in the electrical resistance of the skin in response to emotional stimuli.
2. Any electrical circuit designed to measure the psychogalvanic response.
2. Any electrical circuit designed to measure the psychogalvanic response.
The reading of the degree of change in skin resistance, that is, changes in sweat gland secretion, detected by a sensitive galvanometer may be made directly and visually, or a permanent registration of the psychogalvanic response can be made by means of an ink trace or photographic recording.
psychogenesis
1. The origin and development of the mind; the formation of mental traits.
2. Origin within the mind or psyche.
2. Origin within the mind or psyche.
