psychohistory n.
Isaac Asimov’s term for: a hypothetical science using a combination of history, psychology, and statistics to make long-term predictions about large groups or populations
The 1934 quotation shows the earliest example of a sense in psychology, ‘the analysis or interpretation of historical events from the point of view of psychological or psychoanalytic theory’.
SF Encyclopedia
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[1934 Reunion 1 34
Judged by this profound philosophical test, so many of the glibly clear solutions of psycho-history are unsatisfactory.]
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1942 Foundation in Astounding Science-Fiction May 42/1
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Isaac Asimov
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After the Fall will come inevitable barbarism, a period which, our psychohistory tells us, should…last from thirty to fifty thousand years.
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1945 The Mule in Astounding Science-Fiction Nov. 37/2
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Isaac Asimov
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As I understand it, your investigations into the mathematics of psychohistory have been intended to duplicate Hari Seldon’s work and, eventually, trace the projected course of future history.
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1951 Foundation Trilogy–Foundation i. 3
Isaac Asimov
Undoubtedly his greatest contributions were in the field of psychohistory.
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1980 New Beginnings: The Proper Study of Mankind in Destinies Spring 44
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Jerry Pournelle
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Hari Seldon’s psychohistory probably isn’t possible; but something short of it may yet be developed by people trained in scientific method and equipped with modern tools.
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1996 New Scientist 20 Jan. 44/2
Donald Kingsbury’s ‘Historical Crisis’ challenges the Asimovian concept of psychohistory, a mathematical scheme for predicting the future of societies.
Research requirements
antedating 1942
Earliest cite
Isaac Asimov, in Astounding.
Research History
There are prior non-sf usages, but this is almost certainly the first usage in the sf sense.
Last modified 2021-01-22 10:33:02
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