---
title: "Mental Processes — AP Psychology Definition & Examples"
description: "Mental processes are the unobservable activities of the mind, like thinking, remembering, and feeling, that psychologists infer from behavior. Half of psychology's definition."
canonical: "https://fiveable.me/ap-psych-revised/key-terms/mental-processes"
type: "key-term"
subject: "AP Psychology"
---

# Mental Processes — AP Psychology Definition & Examples

## Definition

Mental processes refer to the internal activities of our mind that are involved in thinking, remembering, perceiving, and experiencing emotions. They cannot be directly observed but can be inferred through behaviors.

## Review

### Related Terms

- [Cognition](/ap-psych-revised/key-terms/cognition): Refers to mental processes such as thinking, problem-solving, and decision-making.
- [Perception](/ap-psych-revised/key-terms/perception): The process by which we interpret sensory information from our environment.
- [Emotion](/ap-psych-revised/key-terms/emotion): Psychological states involving feelings accompanied by physiological changes.