psychologic

Psychologic is an adjective used to describe matters related to psychology, the scientific study of mind and behavior. In contemporary usage, the more common form is psychological, and psychologic appears less frequently, often in older texts or in specialized jargon.

Usage and distinctions with psychological

Psychologic can be found in some dictionaries as a valid, though rare, alternative meaning "relating to psychology." However, most modern editors prefer psychological for describing mental processes, states, or phenomena. When writers encounter phrases such as psychologic testing or psychologic factors, many will substitute psychological testing or psychological factors to align with current usage. In practice, psychological is the form that appears across academic, clinical, and everyday writing.

Origins

The term derives from Greek elements psyche (mind) and logos (study). The word psychology itself emerged in the late Renaissance, and its associated adjectives have followed a similar path. Psychologic is generally regarded as archaic or stylistically marked in contemporary English.

Context

For clear, standard prose, psychological is recommended when referring to mental processes, behavior, or empirical findings. Psychologic may be encountered in historical discussions, specialized lexicons, or when tracing the evolution of terminology in psychology. See also psychology, psychological testing, and mental processes for related concepts.