Which of the following best defines psychology as introduced in Unit 1 of AP Psychology?

• A. The analysis of unconscious motives and dreams
• B. The practice of diagnosing and treating mental illness exclusively
• C. The study of the structure and function of the human brain only
• D. The scientific study of behavior and mental processes

Answer: (D)

Verified step by step guidance

1. Understand that psychology is a broad scientific discipline focused on understanding behavior and mental processes, rather than just one aspect like dreams or brain structure.
2. Recognize that psychology involves systematic research and empirical methods to study how people think, feel, and act.
3. Differentiate psychology from related fields by noting that it is not limited to diagnosing or treating mental illness, but also includes studying normal behavior and cognitive functions.
4. Recall the definition introduced in Unit 1 of AP Psychology, which emphasizes psychology as the scientific study of both observable behaviors and internal mental processes.
5. Conclude that the best definition among the options is the one that describes psychology as the scientific study of behavior and mental processes.