MCAT Psychological Social Foundations Flashcards: 8a Cultural Social Influences Identity

What this deck covers

This deck focuses on 8a Cultural Social Influences Identity, giving you a quick way to review the definitions, rules, and examples that matter most for MCAT Psychological Social Foundations.

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Work through these flashcards in short sessions. Try to answer each prompt before flipping the card, then revisit any cards you miss until the explanation feels automatic.

Flashcard 1: What is the definition of individualism as a cultural pattern shaping identity?

Answer: Prioritizing autonomy, personal goals, and independence. Common in Western cultures; self defined individually.

Flashcard 2: What is social identity theory's core claim about group membership?

Answer: Group membership shapes self-concept and motivates in-group bias. People derive self-esteem from group affiliations, favoring their groups.

Flashcard 3: What is the definition of a social role as used in sociology?

Answer: Set of expectations tied to a social position or status. Roles define behavioral patterns associated with positions in society.

Flashcard 4: What is the definition of socialization as it relates to identity formation?

Answer: Process of learning norms, values, roles, and behaviors. Through socialization, individuals internalize society's expectations.

Flashcard 5: What is the definition of a social norm, and how does it shape identity?

Answer: Shared behavioral expectations that guide self-presentation and roles. Norms create shared standards for appropriate behavior.

Flashcard 6: What is biculturalism, and what does it imply about identity switching?

Answer: Maintaining two cultural identities; context-dependent identity expression. Individuals navigate between cultures based on social context.

Flashcard 7: Identify the concept: a learned, shared way of life shaping identity and behavior.

Answer: Culture. The fundamental concept underlying all social identity formation.

Flashcard 8: What is marginalization as an acculturation outcome relevant to identity?

Answer: Low identification with both heritage and dominant cultures. Results in cultural alienation and identity confusion.

Flashcard 9: What is the "I" component of the self in Mead's theory of identity?

Answer: The spontaneous, autonomous, less socialized aspect of the self. Represents creative impulses before social filtering.

Flashcard 10: What is the generalized other in Mead's theory?

Answer: Internalized norms and expectations of society at large. Represents collective societal attitudes we internalize.

Flashcard 11: What is cultural relativism in evaluating identity-related practices?

Answer: Judging practices within their cultural context, not by one's own. Evaluates practices by their own cultural standards, not external ones.

Flashcard 12: What is a master status and why does it matter for identity?

Answer: A status that dominates others in shaping social identity. One status (e.g., disability) can overshadow all other identities.

Flashcard 13: What is ethnocentrism as a cultural influence on identity and judgment?

Answer: Judging other cultures by standards of one's own culture. Views other cultures as inferior to one's own.

Flashcard 14: What is assimilation, and what identity outcome does it predict for immigrants?

Answer: Adopting dominant culture; reduced salience of heritage identity over time. Complete cultural replacement results in loss of original cultural identity.

Flashcard 15: What is an in-group, in social identity terms?

Answer: Group one identifies with and feels membership in. Creates sense of belonging and shared identity with "us."

Flashcard 16: What is the difference between prejudice and discrimination?

Answer: Prejudice is attitude; discrimination is behavior toward a group. Prejudice involves beliefs while discrimination involves actions.

Flashcard 17: Identify the concept: A person internalizes negative stereotypes about their group.

Answer: Internalized stigma. Accepting society's negative views about one's own group.

Flashcard 18: What is Mead's distinction between the "I" and the "me" in self and identity?

Answer: "I" is spontaneous self; "me" is internalized social expectations. Mead's theory explains identity as a dialogue between impulsive actions and socially conditioned responses for adaptive behavior.

Flashcard 19: What is Mead's distinction between the "I" and the "Me"?

Answer: I: spontaneous self; Me: internalized social expectations. The I acts freely; the Me conforms to social rules.

Flashcard 20: What is culture in the sociological sense as used on the MCAT?

Answer: Shared beliefs, values, norms, and practices of a group. Culture encompasses the collective framework that guides group behavior.

Flashcard 21: What is social identity theory's core claim about group membership and self-esteem?

Answer: Group membership forms identity; in-group favoritism boosts esteem. People derive self-worth from positive group comparisons.

Flashcard 22: What is a master status, and how can it affect identity?

Answer: A status that dominates social perception and self-definition. Master status overshadows other identities in social interactions.

Flashcard 23: What is the difference between primary and secondary socialization?

Answer: Primary: early family; secondary: later institutions and peers. Primary occurs in childhood; secondary continues throughout life.

Flashcard 24: What is the definition of assimilation as an acculturation outcome?

Answer: Adopting host culture while relinquishing original culture. Complete cultural replacement occurs in assimilation.

Flashcard 25: What is stereotype threat, and what outcome does it tend to produce?

Answer: Fear of confirming a stereotype that impairs performance. Anxiety about stereotypes can undermine actual abilities.

Flashcard 26: What is a social norm, and how does it influence identity expression?

Answer: Informal rule for behavior that shapes self-presentation and role behavior. Norms guide expected behaviors in social situations without formal enforcement.

Flashcard 27: What is cultural relativism when evaluating identity-related behaviors across cultures?

Answer: Judging beliefs and practices within their cultural context. Avoids imposing external standards on cultural practices.

Flashcard 28: What is the definition of the generalized other in Mead's theory?

Answer: Internalized norms and expectations of society at large. Represents collective societal attitudes we internalize.

Flashcard 29: What is cultural relativism?

Answer: Evaluating a culture's practices within that culture's context. Avoids bias by understanding practices in their own framework.

Flashcard 30: What is acculturation in relation to identity among immigrants or minorities?

Answer: Adopting aspects of a new culture after contact with another culture. Results from prolonged exposure to different cultural environments.

Flashcard 31: What is the definition of socialization as it relates to identity development?

Answer: Learning norms and roles through interaction with society. Process of acquiring cultural knowledge through social experiences.

Flashcard 32: What is ethnocentrism as a cultural influence on how people judge other identities?

Answer: Evaluating other cultures using one's own culture as the standard. Bias viewing one's own culture as superior to all others.

Flashcard 33: What is the definition of out-group in social identity theory?

Answer: Group perceived as different from one's in-group. Distinction creates us-versus-them categorization.

Flashcard 34: What is acculturation (distinct from assimilation)?

Answer: Adopting elements of a new culture while retaining original culture. Partial cultural adoption allows maintaining dual identities.

Flashcard 35: What is assimilation as an acculturation strategy?

Answer: Adopt new culture while relinquishing original culture. Full adoption of new culture, abandoning original cultural identity.

Flashcard 36: What is the definition of a value, and how does it influence identity-related choices?

Answer: Culturally defined standards of what is important or desirable. Values serve as guiding principles for decisions and priorities.

Flashcard 37: What is the looking-glass self in Cooley's theory?

Answer: Self-concept formed by imagining others' judgments of oneself. We see ourselves through how we think others perceive us.

Flashcard 38: What is assimilation in the context of immigrant identity formation?

Answer: Adopting host culture while relinquishing original cultural identity. Complete cultural replacement, often across generations.

Flashcard 39: What is the looking-glass self in symbolic interactionism?

Answer: Self-concept formed by imagining others' judgments. Cooley theorized we see ourselves through others' eyes.

Flashcard 40: What is the "me" component of the self in Mead's theory of identity?

Answer: The internalized social expectations and norms guiding behavior. Represents society's voice within our self-concept.

Flashcard 41: What is the definition of a reference group in shaping identity and behavior?

Answer: Group used as a standard for self-evaluation and norms. Provides behavioral benchmarks for comparison and conformity.

Flashcard 42: Identify the concept: A person holds two conflicting cultural identities creating stress.

Answer: Bicultural identity conflict. Occurs when values from two cultures clash within one person.

Flashcard 43: What is the difference between norms and values in a culture?

Answer: Norms are expected behaviors; values are ideals and priorities. Norms guide actions while values represent underlying beliefs.

Flashcard 44: Which term describes stress from navigating between cultural identities or norms?

Answer: Acculturative stress. Stress arises from conflicting cultural expectations.

Flashcard 45: What is in-group bias as a social influence on identity and intergroup behavior?

Answer: Favoring one's in-group over out-groups in judgment and behavior. Enhances self-esteem by elevating in-group status.

Flashcard 46: What is the definition of an interdependent self-construal?

Answer: Identity defined by relationships, roles, and group membership. Self-concept emphasizes social connections and harmony.

Flashcard 47: What is the looking-glass self as a mechanism linking society to identity?

Answer: Self-concept shaped by perceptions of how others view and judge us. Cooley's theory: we see ourselves through others' eyes.

Flashcard 48: What is the definition of stigma, and what is its effect on identity?

Answer: Discrediting attribute that can lead to devalued social identity. Stigmatized individuals face social rejection and discrimination.

Flashcard 49: What is the definition of stereotype threat?

Answer: Performance impairment from fear of confirming a stereotype. Anxiety about confirming negative stereotypes hinders performance.

Flashcard 50: What is a mores (as opposed to a folkway) in cultural norms and identity regulation?

Answer: Norm with strong moral significance; violation brings strong sanctions. Mores enforce core societal values tied to identity, with violations eliciting severe disapproval to maintain moral order.

Flashcard 51: What is the difference between prejudice and discrimination?

Answer: Prejudice is attitude; discrimination is behavior. Prejudice is internal bias; discrimination is external action.

Flashcard 52: What is the definition of collectivism as a cultural pattern shaping identity?

Answer: Prioritizing group goals and interdependence over individual goals. Common in Eastern cultures; self defined through group.

Flashcard 53: Identify the concept: A person is both a manager and a friend, and the expectations clash.

Answer: Role conflict. Manager and friend roles have incompatible expectations.

Flashcard 54: What is the "I" versus the "Me" in Mead's theory of the self?

Answer: "I" is spontaneous self; "Me" is internalized social expectations. Mead distinguished impulsive desires from socialized responses.

Flashcard 55: What is multiculturalism as an outcome of cultural contact?

Answer: Coexistence of distinct cultural identities within one society. Multiple cultures maintain separate identities in multicultural societies.

Flashcard 56: What is the definition of the looking-glass self?

Answer: Self-concept shaped by perceived judgments of others. We see ourselves as we believe others see us, like a reflection in a mirror.

Flashcard 57: What is the definition of individualism versus collectivism as cultural dimensions of identity?

Answer: Individualism: autonomy; collectivism: group goals and interdependence. Cultural orientations shape self-concept as independent vs connected.

Flashcard 58: What is socialization, and how does it influence personal identity?

Answer: Lifelong internalization of norms and roles that shapes the self. Through socialization, individuals learn and adopt society's expectations.

Flashcard 59: What is cultural relativism, and how does it frame identity differences?

Answer: Evaluating practices within their cultural context rather than one's own. Avoids bias by understanding behaviors in their original cultural framework.

Flashcard 60: Identify the concept: A person changes behavior to match group norms to be accepted.

Answer: Conformity. Social pressure drives behavioral alignment with group standards.

Flashcard 61: What is the definition of a social identity?

Answer: Self-concept derived from membership in social groups. Group memberships shape how individuals define themselves.

Flashcard 62: What is role conflict?

Answer: Tension from incompatible demands of two or more roles. Example: being a student and employee with conflicting schedules.

Flashcard 63: Identify the concept: adopting dominant culture while keeping original culture strongly.

Answer: Integration (multiculturalism). Maintains both cultures equally, unlike assimilation.

Flashcard 64: Which concept describes favoring one's own group over an out-group?

Answer: In-group bias. People systematically prefer their own group members.

Flashcard 65: What is multiculturalism (pluralism) in the context of identity and society?

Answer: Coexistence of distinct cultures with equal social value. Promotes diversity rather than cultural homogenization.

Flashcard 66: What is labeling theory's main idea about deviance and identity?

Answer: Deviance is shaped by social reactions and internalized labels. Being labeled deviant can lead to adopting that identity.

Flashcard 67: What is ethnocentrism as it relates to interpreting other cultures and identities?

Answer: Judging other cultures by the standards of one's own culture. Ethnocentrism biases identity perceptions by imposing one's cultural lens, potentially leading to misunderstandings of diverse groups.

Flashcard 68: What is acculturation, and how does it differ from assimilation?

Answer: Adopting some host traits while retaining original culture. Acculturation blends cultures; assimilation replaces one.

Flashcard 69: What is a master status in sociology, and how does it affect identity?

Answer: A status that dominates social identity and others' perceptions. Overshadows other identities (e.g., disability, celebrity).

Flashcard 70: Identify the term: A person changes behavior to match group norms to fit in.

Answer: Conformity. Changing behavior to align with group expectations.

Flashcard 71: What is ethnocentrism, and how can it influence identity judgments?

Answer: Viewing one's culture as superior; judging others by own standards. This bias can lead to prejudice and discrimination.

Flashcard 72: What is marginalization in acculturation theory regarding cultural identity?

Answer: Rejecting both heritage culture and host culture. Results in cultural isolation from both origin and host groups.

Flashcard 73: Identify the process: adopting behaviors of a group to gain acceptance and identity.

Answer: Conformity. Changing behavior to match group norms for belonging and identity.

Flashcard 74: What is social identity theory?

Answer: Self-concept partly derives from group memberships and comparisons. Tajfel's theory links personal identity to social categories.

Flashcard 75: What is assimilation in acculturation theory as it relates to immigrant identity?

Answer: Adopting host culture while discarding heritage culture. Complete cultural replacement strategy in immigrant adaptation.

Flashcard 76: What is the definition of culture in the context of social influences on identity?

Answer: Shared beliefs, norms, values, and practices of a group. Culture encompasses the collective patterns that guide group behavior.

Flashcard 77: What is resocialization?

Answer: Replacing old norms with new ones, often in total institutions. Strips away old identity to build a completely new one.

Flashcard 78: Which concept describes overlapping social identities shaping unique experiences?

Answer: Intersectionality. Multiple identities (race, gender, class) interact to create distinct experiences.

Flashcard 79: What is a social role, and how does it connect status to identity?

Answer: Behavioral expectations tied to a status that shape self-definition. Roles provide scripts for behavior associated with social positions.

Flashcard 80: What is culture in sociology, as it relates to identity formation?

Answer: Shared beliefs, values, norms, and practices shaping group life. Culture provides the framework through which individuals develop their sense of self.

Flashcard 81: Identify the concept: "Deriving self-esteem from membership in an in-group."

Answer: Social identity theory. Tajfel's theory: group membership enhances personal self-worth.

Flashcard 82: What is the definition of a social role as it shapes identity within groups and institutions?

Answer: Set of expectations for behavior tied to a social status. Social roles define identity by linking behavioral expectations to positions, influencing interactions in various social contexts.

Flashcard 83: What is the definition of stereotype threat?

Answer: Performance impairment from fear of confirming a stereotype. Awareness of stereotypes can harm performance.

Flashcard 84: What is socialization, and which agents most strongly shape identity across life?

Answer: Internalizing culture via family, peers, school, media, and institutions. Lifelong process transmitting cultural values through social institutions.

Flashcard 85: What is the definition of a social role in sociology?

Answer: Set of expected behaviors tied to a social status. Roles define behavioral patterns associated with positions.

Flashcard 86: What is a status, and what is the difference between ascribed and achieved status?

Answer: Status is social position; ascribed is assigned, achieved is earned. Ascribed statuses are inherited; achieved are worked for.

Flashcard 87: Which term describes internalizing negative messages about one's own group?

Answer: Internalized oppression. Accepting and believing negative stereotypes about one's own social group.

Flashcard 88: What is Cooley's key claim about social interaction and identity formation?

Answer: The self develops through imagining others' views of us. Cooley's concept underscores that identity is socially constructed through perceived external evaluations, integral to symbolic interactionism.

Flashcard 89: What does the term master status mean in identity and social interaction?

Answer: Status that dominates others in shaping social identity. One status can overshadow all others in defining identity.

Flashcard 90: What is a taboo in cultural norms and social control of identity-related behavior?

Answer: A norm prohibiting a behavior strongly condemned by society. Taboos preserve cultural identity by strongly prohibiting actions deemed morally unacceptable, reinforcing group boundaries.

Flashcard 91: What is the definition of acculturation in cultural identity change?

Answer: Adopting aspects of a new culture after contact. Process of cultural change through sustained contact between groups.

Flashcard 92: What is separation as an acculturation strategy?

Answer: Maintain original culture and avoid host culture. Rejecting new culture to preserve original cultural identity.

Flashcard 93: What is the definition of an independent self-construal?

Answer: Identity defined by personal traits, preferences, and achievements. Self-concept emphasizes uniqueness and personal attributes.

Flashcard 94: What is culture as used in MCAT sociology (influence on identity and behavior)?

Answer: Shared beliefs, values, norms, and practices of a group. This definition highlights culture's role in shaping identity through collective elements that influence behavior and social interactions.

Flashcard 95: What is a social norm, and how can it influence identity expression?

Answer: Shared rule of behavior that shapes acceptable self-presentation. Norms define appropriate conduct, constraining identity expression.

Flashcard 96: What is a reference group?

Answer: Group used as a standard for self-evaluation and identity. People compare themselves to this group to shape their identity.

Flashcard 97: What is biculturalism?

Answer: Maintaining two cultural identities and switching by context. Code-switching between cultures based on social situations.

Flashcard 98: What is the generalized other in Mead's theory of the self?

Answer: Internalized societal expectations used to guide behavior and identity. Represents collective social attitudes internalized during development.

Flashcard 99: What is the definition of the generalized other in symbolic interactionism?

Answer: Internalized societal norms used to guide behavior. Society's collective expectations become internal guides.

Flashcard 100: What is the definition of culture in the sociological sense?

Answer: Shared beliefs, values, norms, and practices of a group. Culture encompasses the collective patterns that define a society.