Race, Ethnicity, and Racialization (9B) - Psych & Soc

1. What is prejudice, as distinguished from discrimination?

   A negative attitude or belief about a group. Internal thoughts/feelings, not necessarily acted upon.

2. Identify the concept: a group is forced to adopt the dominant culture by coercion.

   Forced assimilation. Forced assimilation uses power imbalances to erase minority cultures, often through policies or violence.

3. What is the key distinction between race and ethnicity on the MCAT?

   Race is socially assigned; ethnicity is cultural identification. Race is imposed by society; ethnicity is self-chosen.

4. What is stereotyping in the context of race and ethnicity?

   Overgeneralized beliefs about characteristics of group members. Assumes all members share the same traits.

5. What is institutional racism?

   Discriminatory outcomes produced by laws, policies, or institutions. Systems perpetuate inequality regardless of individual intent.

6. What is the definition of out-group in social psychology?

   A group perceived as not belonging to one's in-group. Those seen as different from one's own group.

7. Which option best describes the one-drop rule historically used in the United States?

   Any African ancestry classified a person as Black. Historical legal rule defining racial boundaries.

8. What is the sociological definition of race as used on the MCAT?

   A socially constructed category based on perceived physical traits. Emphasizes social construction, not biological reality.

9. What is the "model minority" stereotype most commonly applied to in the United States?

   Asian Americans as uniformly high-achieving and problem-free. Harmful stereotype ignoring diversity and struggles.

10. What is the sociological definition of race as used on the MCAT?

    A socially constructed category based on perceived physical traits. Not biological but based on society's interpretation of appearance.

11. What is the self-fulfilling prophecy as it relates to racial stereotypes?

    Expectations elicit behaviors that make the expectation come true. Biased expectations shape actual outcomes.

12. What is segregation?

    Physical or social separation of groups, often by race or ethnicity. Segregation maintains social boundaries, reinforcing inequalities through restricted access to opportunities.

13. What is the sociological definition of ethnicity as used on the MCAT?

    Shared cultural heritage (language, religion, customs, ancestry). Cultural elements define ethnicity, not physical traits.

14. What is the difference between individual racism and institutional racism?

    Individual: personal bias; institutional: systemic policies and practices. Personal actions vs. organizational structures.

15. Identify the concept: an immigrant keeps heritage culture and adopts host culture.

    Integration (biculturalism). Integration allows balanced acculturation, preserving original identity while engaging with the new culture.

16. What is a stereotype in social psychology?

    A generalized belief about a group's traits or behaviors. Oversimplified assumptions applied to all members.

17. What is stereotype threat?

    Performance impairment from fear of confirming a negative stereotype. Anxiety about stereotype causes actual performance decline.

18. What is explicit bias?

    Conscious, self-reported attitudes or beliefs about a group. Explicit biases are deliberate and acknowledged, allowing for direct measurement through self-reports.

19. What is institutional (structural) racism?

    Racial inequality produced by policies and institutions, not just individuals. Systems perpetuate inequality without individual intent.

20. What is racialization in sociology?

    Process of assigning racial meaning to a group, trait, or practice. Racialization involves society imposing racial significance on previously non-racial elements, perpetuating inequality.

21. What is the sociological definition of ethnicity as used on the MCAT?

    Shared cultural background (language, religion, ancestry, traditions). Ethnicity emphasizes common cultural elements that bind groups, distinguishing it from race's focus on perceived physical traits.

22. Identify the concept: A hospital policy is race-neutral but yields worse outcomes for one race.

    Institutional (structural) racism via disparate impact. Neutral policies can still create racial disparities.

23. What is colorism?

    Preference and differential treatment based on skin tone within groups. Colorism operates within racial groups, privileging lighter skin due to historical associations with status and beauty.

24. What is implicit bias as it relates to race and ethnicity?

    Unconscious attitudes or associations that affect judgment and behavior. Automatic associations formed through cultural exposure.

25. What is the definition of a stereotype in social psychology?

    Generalized belief about traits of a group. Stereotypes simplify complex social realities by attributing uniform characteristics to entire groups, often leading to bias.

26. What is racialization in sociology?

    The process of assigning racial meaning to people, groups, or practices. Making something racial that wasn't previously seen that way.

27. Which term describes unequal treatment based on race that is embedded in institutions?

    Institutional racism. Policies and practices that create racial inequality.

28. Which term describes the everyday, subtle insults or slights toward marginalized racial groups?

    Microaggressions. Brief, often unintentional acts that communicate bias.

29. What is the definition of ethnocentrism?

    Judging other cultures by one's own culture as the standard. Ethnocentrism promotes cultural superiority, often leading to misunderstanding or devaluation of other cultures.

30. What is pluralism (multiculturalism) as a group process?

    Coexistence of groups while maintaining distinct cultural identities. Pluralism supports diversity by allowing groups to retain identities while participating in shared society.

31. Identify the concept: A hiring test is "race-neutral" but systematically excludes one racial group.

    Institutional discrimination (disparate impact). Neutral rules can have discriminatory effects.

32. What is racialization in sociology?

    The process of assigning racial meanings to people or groups. Creates racial categories through social processes.

33. What is interpersonal racism?

    Racist actions or attitudes expressed between individuals. Interpersonal racism occurs through direct interactions, reflecting personal prejudices in everyday encounters.

34. What is the definition of minority group in sociology?

    Group with less power and fewer resources, not necessarily fewer people. Minority status in sociology is defined by subordinate position in power hierarchies, independent of population size.

35. What is pluralism (multiculturalism) as an outcome for minority groups?

    Maintaining distinct cultures while participating equally in society. Coexistence without forced cultural conformity.

36. What is racialization?

    Assigning racial meaning to a group, practice, or relationship. Process of creating racial categories where none existed.

37. What is the sociological definition of race as used on the MCAT?

    A socially constructed category based on perceived physical traits. Sociologists view race as a fluid social construct shaped by societal perceptions of physical differences rather than inherent biological facts.

38. What is the one-drop rule historically used in the United States?

    Any African ancestry classified a person as Black. Historical legal principle defining racial boundaries.

39. What is internalized racism?

    Acceptance of negative stereotypes about one's own racial group. Internalized racism leads individuals to adopt societal devaluations of their group, affecting self-perception and behavior.

40. What is the sociological meaning of the term "color-blind" ideology?

    Claiming race does not matter, often obscuring structural inequality. Ignoring race perpetuates existing inequalities.

41. Identify the concept: A student underperforms after being reminded of a stereotype about their group.

    Stereotype threat. Awareness of stereotype triggers anxiety and poor performance.

42. What is the self-fulfilling prophecy in the context of racial stereotypes?

    Expectations elicit behaviors that make the expectation come true. Others' biased expectations shape actual outcomes.

43. What is assimilation as a group process?

    Adopting the dominant culture and reducing distinct cultural differences. Assimilation involves minority groups conforming to majority norms, often at the expense of cultural heritage.

44. What is the key distinction between race and ethnicity on the MCAT?

    Race is socially assigned; ethnicity is culturally shared/claimed. Race is imposed by society; ethnicity is self-identified.

45. What is discrimination?

    Unequal treatment of people based on group membership. Prejudice put into action through differential treatment.

46. What is internalized racism?

    Acceptance of negative stereotypes about one's own racial group. Self-directed prejudice from societal messages.

47. What is the definition of in-group in social psychology?

    A group with which a person identifies and feels membership. Creates sense of belonging and shared identity.

48. What is the sociological definition of ethnicity?

    Shared cultural heritage such as language, customs, and ancestry. Based on cultural practices, not physical appearance.

49. What is a microaggression in the context of race and ethnicity?

    Subtle, often unintentional, biased slight toward a marginalized group. Microaggressions convey derogatory messages subtly, contributing to cumulative stress for targeted groups.

50. What is internalized racism?

    Acceptance of negative racial beliefs by members of the targeted group. When oppressed groups believe negative stereotypes about themselves.

51. What is the difference between stereotype and prejudice?

    Stereotype is a belief; prejudice is an evaluative attitude. Stereotypes are cognitive; prejudice adds emotional judgment.

52. Which concept describes racism that is embedded in normal, everyday institutional practices?

    Structural racism. Same as institutional racism; built into systems.

53. What is a stereotype in the context of race and ethnicity?

    A generalized belief about attributes of a group. Oversimplified assumptions applied to all group members.

54. What is discrimination in the context of race and ethnicity?

    Behavior that unfairly treats people based on group membership. Actions that create unequal treatment or opportunities.

55. What is prejudice in the context of race and ethnicity?

    Negative attitudes or feelings toward a group. Internal beliefs that precede discriminatory actions.

56. What is assimilation as an outcome for immigrant or minority groups?

    Adopting the dominant culture, reducing distinct cultural differences. Loss of original culture through integration.

57. Identify the concept: A person is treated as "foreign" despite being a citizen due to appearance.

    Racialization of national belonging (perpetual foreigner stereotype). Citizenship doesn't prevent racial othering.

58. Which term describes the belief that race has a biological, genetically fixed basis?

    Biological essentialism. Incorrectly assumes race has genetic basis.

59. What is institutional (structural) racism?

    Systemic inequity produced by laws, policies, and institutions. Embedded in societal structures, not individual acts.

60. What is acculturation?

    Adopting aspects of a new culture after sustained contact. Cultural change through cross-cultural interaction.

61. Which concept best describes unequal treatment based on perceived race?

    Racism. Racism encompasses systemic and individual practices that disadvantage groups based on perceived racial differences.

62. What is discrimination, as distinguished from prejudice?

    Unequal behavior or actions toward a group. Discrimination involves tangible actions that deny equal treatment, contrasting with prejudice's internal nature.

63. What is the sociological definition of ethnicity as used on the MCAT?

    Shared cultural traits such as language, religion, history, and customs. Cultural identity markers that groups share and pass down.

64. What is assimilation in the context of immigrant racial and ethnic experiences?

    Gradual adoption of the dominant culture with reduced distinctiveness. Loss of original culture through dominant culture adoption.

65. What is implicit bias?

    Automatic, unconscious attitudes that affect judgments and behavior. Implicit biases operate below conscious awareness, influencing decisions in ways that perpetuate inequality.

66. What is a minority group in sociology (not strictly based on numerical size)?

    A group with less power and fewer privileges in a society. Power and privilege matter more than population size.

67. What is colorism?

    Preference and privilege for lighter skin within a racial/ethnic group. Discrimination based on skin tone, not just race.

68. What is the sociological definition of ethnicity as used on the MCAT?

    Shared cultural heritage such as language, history, religion, or customs. Cultural identity passed through generations, not biological traits.

69. What is institutional (structural) racism?

    System-level policies/practices producing racial inequality. Institutional racism embeds bias in organizational structures, resulting in disparate outcomes without individual intent.

70. What is the definition of majority group in sociology?

    Dominant group with greater power and social resources. Majority groups hold systemic advantages, enabling control over societal norms and resources.

71. Which option best describes the social construction view of race?

    Racial categories change across time and place and are not biologically fixed. Society creates racial meanings, not biology.

72. What is racism at the individual level?

    Prejudice or discrimination by individuals based on perceived race. Personal biases and actions, not systemic patterns.

73. What is racism as a sociological concept relevant to the MCAT?

    Prejudice plus power that produces racial inequality. Requires systemic power to create inequality.

74. Which term best fits: racial categories shift across time and place, not biology?

    Race is socially constructed (not a fixed biological category). Social construction of race explains variations in categorizations, highlighting societal rather than genetic bases.

75. What is discrimination, as distinguished from prejudice?

    Unequal behavior or treatment toward a group. Actions taken based on group membership.

76. What is a stereotype?

    An overgeneralized belief about a group. Fixed, oversimplified image applied to all group members.

77. What is discrimination in the context of race and ethnicity?

    Unequal treatment of people based on group membership. Actions that disadvantage groups, not just attitudes.

78. What is the out-group homogeneity effect?

    Perceiving out-group members as more similar than in-group members. "They all look alike" bias toward other groups.

79. What is passing in the context of race?

    Being perceived as a member of a different racial group. When racial identity is misperceived or hidden.

80. What term describes the social belief that race reflects inherent biological differences?

    Biological essentialism. False belief that racial categories reflect genetic differences.

81. Identify the key distinction between race and ethnicity in sociological terms.

    Race emphasizes perceived biology; ethnicity emphasizes shared culture. Race is socially constructed; ethnicity is culturally inherited.

82. What is racism?

    Prejudice plus power that produces systemic racial inequality. Requires institutional power, not just individual bias.

83. What is prejudice, as distinguished from discrimination?

    Negative attitudes or beliefs about a group. Prejudice refers to preconceived opinions not based on reason, setting it apart from overt discriminatory acts.

84. What is racialization in sociology?

    The process of assigning racial meaning to a group or relationship. Creates racial categories where none existed before.

85. What is the sociological definition of race as used in MCAT psychology/sociology?

    A socially constructed category based on perceived physical traits. Emphasizes social construction, not biological reality.

86. What is the sociological definition of race as used on the MCAT?

    A socially constructed category based on perceived physical traits. Social meaning attached to physical differences, not biological reality.

87. What is prejudice in the context of race and ethnicity?

    A negative attitude or evaluation toward a group. Emotional response preceding discriminatory behavior.

88. What is interpersonal racism?

    Racist acts or behaviors occurring between individuals. Direct person-to-person discriminatory actions.

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