psychocentric

The story

The adjective is derived from psycho- (prefix meaning ‘relating to the mind or soul’) + -centric (suffix meaning ‘having a specified object at the centre, or as the focus of attention’). The noun is probably derived from the adjective. Adjective sense 2 (“of a tourist: tending to avoid adventures and risks”) and the noun sense (“tourist who tends to avoid adventures and risks”) were coined by the American travel researcher Stanley C. Plog in a paper presented to the Southern California Chapter of the Travel Research Association on 10 October 1972, which was later published in February 1974: see the quotation.

First known use, by meaning

• from late 19th c. Primarily focused on the mind or spirit, especially as opposed to the body.
• from early 1970s Of a tourist: tending to avoid adventures and risks, preferring the familiar; self-inhibiting.
• from early 1970s A tourist who tends to avoid adventures and risks, preferring the familiar.