Definitions
- Referring to a mental or emotional cause of a physical symptom or condition. - Describing a condition or symptom that arises from psychological factors rather than a physical cause. - Talking about a disorder or illness that originates in the mind or emotions.
- Referring to a physical symptom or condition that arises from psychological factors. - Describing a condition or symptom that has both physical and psychological components. - Talking about a disorder or illness that is influenced by emotional or mental factors.
List of Similarities
- 1Both words describe a connection between mental/emotional factors and physical symptoms/conditions.
- 2Both words suggest that psychological factors can influence physical health.
- 3Both words are used in medical contexts to describe certain conditions or symptoms.
What is the difference?
- 1Scope: Psychosomatic is a broader term that can encompass both physical and mental aspects, while psychogenic is more specific to mental or emotional causes.
- 2Connotation: Psychogenic can imply that the condition is entirely in the mind, while psychosomatic suggests a more complex interplay between mind and body.
- 3Usage: Psychogenic is more commonly used in academic or technical contexts, while psychosomatic is more widely used in everyday language.
- 4Focus: Psychogenic focuses more on the origin of the condition, while psychosomatic focuses more on the interaction between mental and physical factors.
Remember this!
Both psychogenic and psychosomatic describe a connection between mental/emotional factors and physical symptoms/conditions. However, psychogenic emphasizes that the cause of the symptom or condition is purely mental or emotional, while psychosomatic suggests that there may be both physical and psychological components. Psychogenic is more specific and less commonly used in everyday language, while psychosomatic is a broader term that is more widely used.
