In an introductory psychology course, psychology is best defined as the scientific study of the ________.

• A. social norms and cultural traditions
• B. unconscious motives only
• C. brain structure alone
• D. mind and behavior

Answer: (D)

Verified step by step guidance

1. Understand that psychology is a broad scientific discipline focused on studying various aspects of human experience.
2. Recognize that psychology does not limit itself to just one component like brain structure or unconscious motives, but rather encompasses multiple facets.
3. Recall the definition of psychology as the scientific study of both mental processes (mind) and observable actions (behavior).
4. Eliminate options that focus solely on social norms, unconscious motives, or brain structure, as these are parts of psychology but not its full scope.
5. Conclude that the best definition of psychology is the scientific study of the mind and behavior, capturing both internal experiences and external actions.