cod psychology

noun

Beliefs about psychology that have no basis in fact; psychological prejudices, amateur psychology.

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Meanings

nouncod psychology (uncountable)
  1. uncountableBeliefs about psychology that have no basis in fact; psychological prejudices, amateur psychology.

    One must beware of cod psychology.

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

    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.

    1999, Paul A. Taylor, Hackers: Crime in the Digital Sublime, Psychology Press, →ISBN, page 179

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

    2010, Sarah Moss, Cold Earth, →ISBN

    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.

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

Origin

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

Full word history & related roots →
Cite this entry
APA

cod psychology. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 4, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/cod%20psychology

MLA

“cod psychology.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/cod%20psychology. Accessed November 4, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “cod psychology,” accessed November 4, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/cod%20psychology.

Source: cod psychology on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.