Which psychological perspective explores how thinking influences behavior?

Cognitive psychology is the correct choice as it specifically examines how mental processes such as thinking, perception, memory, and problem-solving influence behavior. This perspective emphasizes the internal processes that occur in the mind, allowing psychologists to understand how individuals interpret and respond to their experiences. Cognitive psychology investigates the way information is processed, stored, and recalled, thereby linking thought processes directly to behaviors and actions.

The other perspectives focus on different aspects of psychology. Behaviorism primarily studies observable behaviors and the external factors that shape them, largely ignoring internal mental activities. Humanistic psychology emphasizes individual experience and personal growth, focusing on concepts like self-actualization and free will, but it does not center on the cognitive processes that lead to behavior. Biopsychology, also known as neuroscience, investigates the biological underpinnings of behavior by looking at how brain processes and physiological mechanisms affect mental functions and actions. These approaches do not delve into the thought processes in the same direct way that cognitive psychology does.