psychobiography
noun
psy·cho·bi·og·ra·phy
ˌsī-kō-bī-ˈä-grə-fē 
-bē-
: a biography written from a psychodynamic or psychoanalytic point of view
also
: the application of such a point of view to the writing of a biography
Examples of psychobiography in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Her bookcase displays her many publications: her psychobiography of the poet Robert Lowell, which was nominated for the Pulitzer Prize, and her books on suicide, on exuberance and on the connection between mania and artistic genius.
—
Casey Schwartz, New York Times, 22 May 2023
First Freud’s patient in the 1920s, in 1930 Bullitt also became his collaborator, co-writing a dubious psychobiography of Woodrow Wilson.
—Patrick Blanchfield, The New Republic, 1 Sep. 2022
And so, duly catering to the market, the book is presented as a psychobiography of the author’s uncle, whose military academy class photo adorns the cover.
—Anne Diebel, The New York Review of Books, 8 Sep. 2020
Esa-Pekka Salonen, in his stirring performance with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra Thursday night at Symphony Center, treated it as a masterpiece of pure music, rather than as musical psychobiography.
—John Von Rhein, chicagotribune.com, 18 May 2018
Some commentators attempted to bridge this gap by indulging in dubious psychobiography posing as criticism.
—Peter Rainer, The Christian Science Monitor, 16 Dec. 2017
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Casey Schwartz, New York Times, 22 May 2023
First Freud’s patient in the 1920s, in 1930 Bullitt also became his collaborator, co-writing a dubious psychobiography of Woodrow Wilson.
—Patrick Blanchfield, The New Republic, 1 Sep. 2022
And so, duly catering to the market, the book is presented as a psychobiography of the author’s uncle, whose military academy class photo adorns the cover.
—Anne Diebel, The New York Review of Books, 8 Sep. 2020
Esa-Pekka Salonen, in his stirring performance with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra Thursday night at Symphony Center, treated it as a masterpiece of pure music, rather than as musical psychobiography.
—John Von Rhein, chicagotribune.com, 18 May 2018
Some commentators attempted to bridge this gap by indulging in dubious psychobiography posing as criticism.
—Peter Rainer, The Christian Science Monitor, 16 Dec. 2017
Cite this Entry
“Psychobiography.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/psychobiography. Accessed 30 Oct. 2025.
Copy CitationMedical Definition
psychobiography
noun
psy·cho·bi·og·ra·phy
-bī-ˈäg-rə-fē, -bē-
plural psychobiographies
: a biography written from a psychodynamic or psychoanalytic point of view
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