psychogenesis /sī′kōjen″əsis/ [Gk, psyche + genesis, origin] , 1. the development of the mind or of a mental function or process. 2. the development or production of a physical symptom or disease having a mental or psychic origin rather than an organic cause. 3. the development of emotional states, either normal or abnormal, from the interaction of conscious and unconscious psychological forces. Compare somatogenesis.
