Which of the following best defines the field of psychology?

• A. The analysis of historical events and their impact on society
• B. The scientific study of behavior and mental processes
• C. The practice of diagnosing and treating only physical disorders
• D. The study of physical health and disease prevention

Answer: (B)

Verified step by step guidance

1. Step 1: Understand that psychology is a scientific discipline focused on studying behavior and mental processes, rather than historical events or physical health alone.
2. Step 2: Recognize that psychology involves systematic observation, experimentation, and analysis to understand how people think, feel, and act.
3. Step 3: Differentiate psychology from other fields such as history (which studies past events) and medicine (which focuses on physical health and disease).
4. Step 4: Note that psychology includes both observable behaviors and internal mental processes like thoughts, emotions, and motivations.
5. Step 5: Conclude that the best definition of psychology is 'the scientific study of behavior and mental processes' because it captures the core focus and methodology of the field.