What field involves the study of mental processes and their impact on behavior?

The field that involves the study of mental processes and their impact on behavior is psychology. This discipline encompasses a wide range of topics related to how people think, feel, and behave, particularly the underlying mental processes that influence these aspects. It includes various theories and practices that aim to understand and explain behaviors, reactions, emotions, and cognitive functions.

Psychology is foundational in exploring areas such as perception, memory, decision-making, and problem-solving, all of which highlight the interactions of mental processes and behaviors. By examining these connections, psychologists can develop strategies for improving mental health, educational outcomes, and interpersonal relationships, making psychology a pivotal field for understanding human behavior.

Other options like psychoanalysis specifically refer to a therapeutic approach focusing on unconscious processes, cognitive therapy emphasizes changing maladaptive thinking patterns, and behavioral science broadly studies behaviors through observation and data rather than directly analyzing mental processes. Each of these fields has its unique focus but does not encompass the broad study of both mental processes and behavior as comprehensively as psychology does.