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Psychology is defined as the scientific study of behavior and mental processes, encompassing everything from brain function and perception to social interactions and psychological...
Because psychology is a science, its findings rely on the systematic application of the scientific method. Researchers typically begin by forming a hypothesis, then designing a stu...
All behavior ultimately arises from the activity of the nervous system, whose basic working unit is the neuron. A neuron has three main parts: dendrites, which receive signals from...
Before the brain can interpret the world, it must first detect physical energy through sensory receptors. Sensation is the process of detecting this energy, while perception is the...
Learning allows behavior to change as a result of experience, and psychologists have described several distinct mechanisms through which this occurs. Classical conditioning, discov...
Memory is the system that allows past experience to influence present behavior, and researchers have identified multiple stages and types of memory that work together. The process...
Psychologists have long sought to define and measure intelligence. In everyday terms, intelligence is the mental ability to learn from experience, solve problems, and adapt to new...
When patterns of thought, emotion, or behavior cause significant distress or impairment, psychologists may diagnose a psychological disorder. The standard reference used by mental...