psychomotor
|psy-cho-mo-tor|
🇺🇸
/ˌsaɪkoʊˈmoʊtər/
🇬🇧
/ˌsaɪkəˈməʊtə/
mind-driven movement
Etymology
'psychomotor' originates from combining elements derived from Greek and Latin: specifically Greek 'psyche' (ψυχή) meaning 'soul, mind' and Latin 'mōtōr' from 'mōvere' meaning 'mover' or 'to move'.
'psychomotor' developed into English usage in the late 19th to early 20th century from Neo-Latin/Germanic scientific formations such as Neo-Latin 'psychomotorius' and German 'psychomotorisch', which themselves combine Greek 'psyche' and Latin 'motor'.
Initially used to denote the relationship between mental processes and movement, the term's usage has remained focused on that core idea but has broadened to include clinical descriptions (e.g., psychomotor agitation, psychomotor retardation) and assessment of psychomotor skills.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Noun 1
used (often in compounds) to refer to motor activity that is influenced by mental processes (e.g., 'psychomotor activity', 'psychomotor agitation'); sometimes used as a shorthand for psychomotor function or performance.
Psychomotor is frequently assessed when clinicians evaluate depression or certain neurological conditions.
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Adjective 1
relating to or involving both mental (psychological) processes and physical movement or motor activity; concerned with the coordination of cognition/emotion and movement.
The clinician observed psychomotor retardation in the patient during the interview.
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Last updated: 2025/10/16 17:18