Etiology

Definition

Etiology refers to the study of causes or origins. In psychology, it's used to understand the root cause of a particular behavior, mental disorder, or disease.

Related terms

Causation: This is the action of causing something. It's similar to etiology but more general - not just related to diseases or disorders.

Pathogenesis: This term refers specifically to how a disease develops in the body. It's like etiology but focuses on physical illnesses rather than psychological ones.

Risk Factors: These are characteristics that increase someone’s chances of developing a disease or health disorder. They're part of what psychologists look at when studying etiology.