In the context of psychology, which of the following best defines the field of psychology?

• A. The practice of diagnosing and treating physical illnesses
• B. The analysis of chemical reactions in the human body
• C. The study of historical events and their impact on society
• D. The scientific study of behavior and mental processes

Answer: (D)

Verified step by step guidance

1. Step 1: Understand that psychology is a scientific discipline focused on understanding human behavior and mental processes.
2. Step 2: Recognize that psychology involves systematic observation, experimentation, and analysis to study how people think, feel, and act.
3. Step 3: Differentiate psychology from other fields such as medicine (which diagnoses and treats physical illnesses), chemistry (which studies chemical reactions), and history (which studies past events).
4. Step 4: Identify that the best definition of psychology is 'the scientific study of behavior and mental processes' because it captures both observable actions and internal experiences.
5. Step 5: Conclude that the correct answer is the option describing psychology as the scientific study of behavior and mental processes.