physicology

Noun

physicology (uncountable)

1. (archaic) physics
   • Physicology, far more comprehensive than the sense to which Physiology is fixed, would in this case signify the doctrine of the nature of all things whatever which exist independently of the mind's conception of them, and of the human will; which things include all whose nature we grow acquainted...1831, Benjamin Humphrey Smart, An Outline of Sematology; or, an Essay Towards Establishing a New Theory of Grammar, Logic, and Rhetoric
   • metaphysics has hitherto been a science merely in name, since it has abandoned physicology, and taught to satisfy itself with mere abstractions.1839, Thomas Curtis, The London encyclopaedia
2. The study of how the body works; physiology.
   • Physicology implies that much knowledge of the body, whether it be exemplified or not, and in order to obtain the best results the body must be kept free from habits; such habits as tobacco, morphine, cocaine, chloral, liquor, and many others.1911, R. H. Robinson, “Insanity”, in Dominion Medical Monthly and Ontario Medical Journal, page 191
   • Every nurse desiring to style herself a registered nurse in the state of Washington shall make application to the nurses' examining board for examination for registration, such examination to consist of questions in surgical nursing, contagions, materia medica, dietietics, medical nursing...1914, Report of the Attorney General of the State of Washington, page 391
3. The study of human behavior based on physical phenomena; An attempt to study psychology and sociology without resorting to abstract hypothetical variables.
   • Physicology defines socialization as a purely molecular phenomenon. Instead of seeing socialization as an interpersonal exchange of abstract norms, concepts, or cultural information, physicology redefines it in terms of the skilful exchanges of patterns of reflected light, sound, smell, and other...1984, Personality Psychology in Europe - Volume 6, page 165
   • Physicology sees humans as complex carbon-based molecular organizations whose development and behavior depends on DNA instructions and on how these instructions are modulated by, say, hormones in the nonlinear dynamic interaction with an entirely physico-chemical environment (Nyborg 1996).1999, Louie S. Harrie, Problems of Drug Dependence 1996, page 268