An expert in psychology
Oxford Essential Dictionary
psychology
noun (no plural)
the study of the mind and how it works
Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English
psychology
psy‧chol‧o‧gy W3 AC /saɪˈkɒlədʒi $ -ˈkɑː-/ noun (plural psychologies)
[Word Family: noun: psychology, psychologist; adverb: psychologically; adjective: psychological]
1. [uncountable] the study of the mind and how it influences people’s behaviour
educational/social etc psychology
• experts in the field of developmental psychology
2. [uncountable] the mental processes involved in believing in something or doing a certain activity
psychology of
• research into the psychology of racism
3. [uncountable and countable] what someone thinks or believes, and how this affects what they do:
• the psychology of three-year-olds
• mob psychology
• You have to use psychology to get people to stop smoking.
Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary
psychology
psych·ology AW [psychology psychologies] [saɪˈkɒlədʒi] [saɪˈkɑːlədʒi] noun
1. uncountable the scientific study of the mind and how it influences behaviour
• social/educational/child psychology
compare pop psychology
2. singular the kind of mind that sb has that makes them think or behave in a particular way
• the psychology of small boys
3. singular how the mind influences behaviour in a particular area of life
• the psychology of interpersonal relationships
Word Origin:
late 17th cent.: from modern Latin psychologia (see psycho-, -logy).
Example Bank:
• The answers we give will reflect our own psychology.
• Watching the shoppers at the sales gave her a first-hand insight into crowd psychology.
Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary
psychology
psychology /saɪˈkɒl.ə.dʒi/ US /-ˈkɑː.lə-/
noun [U]
the scientific study of the way the human mind works and how it influences behaviour, or the influence of a particular person's character on their behaviour:
She studied psychology at Harvard.
a lecturer in psychology
child psychology
the psychology of the soldier
Compare psychiatry.
psychological /ˌsaɪ.kəlˈɒdʒ.ɪ.kəl/ US /-kəˈlɑː.dʒɪ-/
adjective
1 relating to the human mind and feelings:
psychological problems
He claims that the constant aircraft noise has a bad psychological effect on the residents.
We are concerned with the physical and psychological well-being of our employees.
2 (of an illness or other physical problem) caused by anxiety or sadness:
I suspect his headaches are purely psychological.
3 [before noun] describes a film or book in which there is a lot of attention given to the way people influence each other's behaviour:
a psychological thriller
psychologically /ˌsaɪ.kəlˈɒdʒ.ɪ.kli/ US /-kəˈlɑː.dʒɪ-/
adverb
psychologically disturbed
psychologist /saɪˈkɒl.ə.dʒɪst/ US /-ˈ
noun [C]
someone who studies the human mind and human emotions and behaviour, and how different situations have an effect on them:
a child psychologist
an educational psychologist
She spent 15 years as a clinical psychologist with the Northumberland Health Authority.
Collins Advanced Learner’s English Dictionary
psychology
[saɪkɒ̱ləʤi]
1) N-UNCOUNT Psychology is the scientific study of the human mind and the reasons for people's behaviour.
...Professor of Psychology at Bedford College.
2) N-UNCOUNT: usu N of n The psychology of a person is the kind of mind that they have, which makes them think or behave in the way that they do.
...a fascination with the psychology of murderers.
Merriam-Webster's Advanced Learner's Dictionary
psychology
psy·chol·o·gy /saɪˈkɑːləʤi/ noun, pl -gies
1 [noncount] : the science or study of the mind and behavior
• She studied psychology in college.
2 : the way a person or group thinks
[noncount]
• the psychology of an athlete
• mob psychology
• the psychology of crowd behavior
[count]
• We need to understand the psychologies of the two people involved in the incident.
- see also reverse psychology