psychogenesis

[sahy-kuh-jen-uh-sis]

noun

1. genesis of the psyche.

2. Psychology.,  the origin of physical or psychological states, normal or abnormal, out of the interplay of conscious and unconscious psychological forces.

3. Pathology.,  the origin of symptoms as a result of emotional causes.

psychogenesis

/ ˌsaɪkəʊˈdʒɛnɪsɪs, ˌsaɪkəʊdʒɪˈnɛtɪk /

noun

1. psychol the study of the origin and development of personality, human behaviour, and mental processes

Other Word Forms

• psychogenetic adjective
• psychogenetically adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of psychogenesis¹

From New Latin, dating back to 1830–40; psycho-, -genesis

Example Sentences

Four sources have been propounded for the study of psychogenesis.

From Project Gutenberg

Once or twice he spoke of "psychogenesis" with an emphatic enunciation which seemed to invite respectful wonder.

From Project Gutenberg

In a recent work on the subject of psychogenesis he upholds his former views, and believes he has been able to separate his cases into three distinct groups.

From Project Gutenberg

Social psychogenesis is a present and a progressive process.

From Project Gutenberg

The author emphasizes the motor elements in mental evolution, and thus introduces into psychogenesis a point of view which is eminently characteristic of modern psychology….

From Project Gutenberg