Which psychological area would benefit from studying cognitive biases and decision-making processes?

Studying cognitive biases and decision-making processes falls squarely within the realm of cognition and decision-making. This area of psychology focuses on understanding how people think, reason, and make choices. Cognitive biases are systematic patterns of deviation from norm or rationality in judgment, and they significantly influence how decisions are made. By examining these biases, researchers can uncover the cognitive mechanisms at play when individuals face choices, leading to better insights into how decisions are formulated, structured, and influenced.

This area is particularly relevant in exploring how various factors, including emotional, social, and environmental influences, affect human thought processes and choices. It connects to theories of rational choice and heuristics, exploring both the limitations of human cognition and the strategies people employ to navigate complex decision-making scenarios.

The other options relate to important aspects of psychology but do not specifically center on cognitive biases in decision-making. Social influence, for example, looks more at how personal behavior is affected by others, while behavioral psychology emphasizes observable behaviors rather than internal thought processes. Human motivation focuses on the reasons behind individuals’ actions but doesn't delve into the cognitive aspects of how those actions are decided upon. Thus, "Cognition and decision-making" is the most appropriate area for this inquiry.