nomogenic

Nomogenic is an adjective used in certain scholarly contexts to describe processes or phenomena produced by laws, norms, or external governing factors rather than arising spontaneously or from internal mechanisms. The term derives from Greek nomos meaning law, order, or custom, combined with the suffix -genic meaning producing or generating.

Usage and scope: Nomogenic is relatively rare and not tied to a single discipline. It appears in discussions of philosophy of science, evolutionary theory, linguistics, and social sciences to signal that a change or pattern is constrained by external normative structures rather than purely intrinsic dynamics. In such use, nomogenic processes are contrasted with autogenic or endogenous processes, which originate within the system itself, and exogenous processes, which arise from external factors but not necessarily governed by normative rules.

Examples: A nomogenic theory in linguistics might attribute certain language changes to social prestige norms and standardization policies rather than internal phonological drift. In biology or evolution, critics might describe a proposed mechanism as nomogenic if the change is primarily dictated by environmental pressures that act as rules or constraints on variation.

Limitations: The term is not widely standardized, and its interpretation can vary by field. When used, it should be defined explicitly within the context of the discussion.

See also: autogenic, endogenous, exogenous, nomogenesis, normative science.