PsychologyAugust 30, 2026

reductionistic

ri-DUK-shuh-NIS-tik

Definition

Treating a complex phenomenon or process as if it were simpler than it actually is by ignoring its nuance or deeper layers.

Etymology

Derived from the Latin 'reducere' (to bring back or restore), the term was coined in the 20th century to describe the tendency to reduce complex systems into their smallest, simplest constituent parts.

In the news

The author uses this term to suggest that characterizing a profound psychological process like Lacanian psychoanalysis as a simple coming-of-age story oversimplifies its true complexity.

Why “Tony” Fails and What Therapists Can Learn From It

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Psychology Today

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