What is the term for this?

Question

I keep coming across "quotes" on the internet that say things like "psychology says, if a person blah blah" I'm wondering what the term would be when someone 'mislabels' a field of study (psychology in this case) as a person, as if a field of knowledge is someone talking, I don't know how else to put this.

Thanks for any help!

I wouldn't call it 'mislabelling'; it's a recognised shorthand for 'people who are experts in psychology'. — Kate Bunting, Nov 12 '23 at 12:39
Does this answer your question? What's the name of this literary device? 'Suddenly, the theater became silent.' — Edwin Ashworth, Nov 12 '23 at 12:46
It's arguably not personification ('a field of study' already having undeniable human connections) but metonymy (using the field to represent typical/paradigmatic representatives). 'Whitehall has commented "No parties!" ' is a typically cited type of example. // For the reason Kate mentions, I've added scare quotes around 'mislabelling'. 'Mistreats' wouldn't work! // Does this answer your question? What's the name of this literary device? 'Suddenly, the theater became silent.' — Edwin Ashworth, Nov 12 '23 at 12:59

score 1 · Answer 1 · answered Nov 12 '23 at 13:01

I'm wondering what the term would be when someone mislabels a field of study (psychology in this case) as a person,

It isn't "mislabelling" at all. It is synecdoche (/sᵻˈnɛkdəki/).

OED synecdoche

A figure of speech in which a more inclusive term is used for a less inclusive one or vice versa, as a whole for a part or a part for a whole.

"psychology says, if a person blah blah" = people who study psychology say, ...

Compare

"The White House announced its policy on orphaned kittens" = A spokesman for the president announced the president's policy on orphaned kittens"

See Wikipedia - synecdoche

Rather than people who study psychology I would imagine "psychology says" stands for psychologists and/or psychiatrists . In my opinion it's a metonymy. It doesn't seem that much of a stretch, whereas "Buckingham Palace" in the news will often be short for "King Charles III's chief of staff/personnel/press secretary or private secretary etc. — Mari-Lou A, Nov 12 '23 at 13:42

What is the term for this?

1 Answers1