Which definition best describes psychology as a scientific discipline?

• A. The study of the brain’s biological structures and the nervous system, without considering behavior or cognition.
• B. The scientific study of behavior and mental processes, including how people think, feel, and act.
• C. The philosophical analysis of morality, knowledge, and human nature using logical reasoning rather than empirical methods.
• D. The practice of diagnosing and treating mental disorders through counseling and medication.

Answer: (B)

Verified step by step guidance

1. Step 1: Understand that psychology as a scientific discipline focuses on studying behavior and mental processes. This means it looks at how people think, feel, and act.
2. Step 2: Recognize that psychology uses empirical methods, which involve observation, experimentation, and evidence-based research, rather than purely philosophical reasoning or speculation.
3. Step 3: Differentiate psychology from related fields: for example, biology studies brain structures and the nervous system but does not encompass behavior and cognition fully; philosophy uses logical reasoning without empirical methods; and clinical practice involves treatment rather than the scientific study itself.
4. Step 4: Identify that the best definition of psychology includes both behavior (observable actions) and mental processes (internal experiences like thoughts and feelings), studied scientifically.
5. Step 5: Conclude that the correct definition is: 'The scientific study of behavior and mental processes, including how people think, feel, and act.'