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

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

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, physical health, or solely mental illness treatment.
2. Step 2: Recognize that behavior refers to observable actions, while mental processes include thoughts, feelings, and internal experiences that are not directly observable.
3. Step 3: Note that psychology uses scientific methods to investigate these behaviors and mental processes systematically and empirically.
4. Step 4: Differentiate psychology from other fields such as history (which studies past events), medicine (which focuses on physical health and disease), and psychiatry (which involves diagnosing and treating mental illnesses).
5. Step 5: Conclude that the best definition of psychology in the context of AP Psychology Unit 1 is 'The scientific study of behavior and mental processes.'