cod psychology

English

Etymology

From cod (“having the character of imitation”) +‎ psychology.

Noun

cod psychology (uncountable)

1. Beliefs about psychology that have no basis in fact; psychological prejudices, amateur psychology.
   • 1999, Paul A. Taylor, Hackers: Crime in the Digital Sublime, Psychology Press, →ISBN, page 179:

     The cod psychology used to explain hackers' motivations is evident in Gilboa's statement quoted above, and in Cyberpunk poorly founded conjectures are continually made as to the state of mind of various hackers.

   • 2010, Sarah Moss, Cold Earth, →ISBN:

     Piss off with the cod psychology, says Nina, it's not my worst fears that built the cairn.

   • 2012, Neil Carter, Medicine, Sport and the Body: A Historical Perspective, →ISBN, page 95:

     While there was an awareness of the 'mental side' of sport, the psychological methods used in British sport were mainly non-scientific and could be described as cod psychology.

   • 2019, Tim Mackintosh-Smith, Arabs: A 3,000-Year History of Peoples, Tribes and Empires, →ISBN:

     One must beware of cod psychology.

Related terms

• cod psychologist