Psych- words: “psychomotor” to “psychoscope”,
Part 6 of 7
Words that include: psych-, psycho-, -psyche, -psychic,
-psychical, -psychically
(Greek: mind, spirit, consciousness; mental processes;
the human soul; breath of life)
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; and literally, "that which breathes".
psychomotor:
1. Concerning or causing physical activity associated with mental processes.
2. Relating to the psychological processes associated with muscular movement, and to the production of voluntary movements.
3. Relating to the combination of psychic and motor events, including disturbances.
psychoneuroimmunology:
The study of the relationships that exist among the central nervous system, autonomic nervous system, endocrine system, and immune system.
psychoneurosis:
Emotional maladaptation due to unresolved unconscious conflicts. This leads to disturbances in thoughts, feelings, attitudes, and behaviors. There is little, if any, loss of contact with reality, but the patient's effectiveness in performing his/her usual responsiveness is handicapped.
psychoneurotic:
1. A reference to a functional disorder of mental origin.
2. A person suffering from a psychoneurosis.
psychonomic, psychonomics:
A reference to the relations between mental experiences and specific aspects of physical and social environments.
psychonomy, psychonomics:
1. The study of the relationship of the mind to the individual's internal and external environment.
2. The branch of psychology concerned with the laws of behavior or mental action.
psychonosology:
The classification of mental illnesses and behavioral disorders.
psychonoxious:
1. Having an unfavorable effect on the emotional life and reactions mediated by higher levels of the central nervous system; may be endogenous or exogenous.
2. Denoting persons or situations that elicit fear, pain, anxiety, or anger in an individual.
psycho-oncology:
The psychological aspects of the treatment and management of a patient with cancer; it combines elements of psychiatry, psychology, and medicine with special concern for the psychosocial needs of the patient and his/her family.
psycho-optic, psychoptic:
Producing a vision of the mind or soul.
psycho-osmic:
A reference to the mental perception of smelling.
psychoparesis:
Mental debility.
psychopath:
An individual with a mentally disordered or abnormal personality; an antisocial type of personality disorder. Also known as anethopath, sociopath.
psychopathia martialis:
A seldom used term for shell shock.
psychopathic:
1. Concerning or characterized by a mental disorder.
2. A reference to the treatment of mental disorders.
3. An abnormal mental condition.
psychopathist:
An obsolete term for a psychiatrist.
psychopathologist:
Someone who specializes in psychopathology.
psychopathology:
1. The science concerned with the pathology of the mind and behavior.
2. The science of mental and behavioral disorders, including psychiatry and abnormal psychology.
3. The pathology of mental diseases.
psychopathy:
A reference to a pattern of antisocial or manipulative behavior engaged in by a psychopath.
psychopharmaceuticals:
Medical drugs that are used in the treatment of emotional disorders.
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.
psychophobia:
Pathological fear of the mind or psyche and, in particular, of the contents of one's own mind.
psychophylaxis:
Mental hygiene which is said to develop "healthy emotions, attitudes, and behaviors and is free from emotional stress and mental illness."
psychophonasthenia:
A speech disorder of psychogenic origin.
psychophysicotherapeutics:
Remedial treatment of mind and body.
psychophysical:
Both psychological and physical.
psychophysics:
The science of the relation between the physical attributes of a stimulus and the measured, quantitative attributes of the mental perception of that stimulus (e.g., the relationship between changes in decibel level and the corresponding changes in the person's perception of the sound).
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.
psychoplegia:
Dementia of a rapidly progressive nature.
psychopolitics:
Characterized by the interaction of politics or political events and behavior; psychopolitical.
psychoprophylactic:
Preparation for childbirth with mental and physical training of the mother for delivery. The goals of the preparation include the elimination of the fear of pain and the expectation that a healthy child will be born.
psychoprophylaxis:
1. A natural childbirth technique in which psychological preparation is used to condition the patient and diminish perception of pain.
2. Psychotherapy directed toward the prevention of emotional disorders and the maintenance of mental health.
psychopomp:
A person who conducts spirits or souls to the other world, as Hermes or Charon.
psychopyrism:
The belief that fire is the substance of the soul; psychopyrist, someone who holds this belief.
psychorelaxation:
A method of treating anxiety and tension by practicing general bodily relaxation, as in systematic desensitization.
psychorhythmia, psychorrhythmia:
An involuntary repetition of formerly voluntary activities.
psychorrhea:
Rarely used term for a psychiatric syndrome characterized by incoherent and strange philosophical theories; a manifestation of schizophrenia.
psychosarcous:
Having a spiritual body.
psychoscope:
A method of inspecting the mind or soul.