Cultural and Social Influences on Identity (8A) - MCAT Psychological and Social Foundations

Judging other cultures by one’s own culture as the standard. Belief that one's own culture is superior to others.

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

"I" is spontaneous self; "me" is internalized social expectations. Mead distinguished impulsive self from socialized self.

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

People compare themselves to groups that set norms for evaluation. Groups provide standards for self-assessment and behavior.

Conformity. Changing behavior to align with group expectations.

Internalization. True acceptance occurs when group seems credible.

Identity partly derives from group memberships and in-group favoritism. People derive self-worth from their group affiliations and favor their own groups.

Adopting another person’s perspective to guide the self. Understanding situations by imagining oneself in another's position.

Anxiety about confirming a negative stereotype about one’s group. Fear of fulfilling stereotypes can impair performance.

Self-concept formed from perceived judgments of others. Cooley's theory: we see ourselves through others' eyes.

Mores are morally significant norms; folkways are everyday customs. Mores carry moral weight; folkways are routine conventions.

Ascribed is assigned at birth; achieved is earned later. Birth determines ascribed status; effort determines achieved status.

Status that dominates a person’s social identity in context. One status can overshadow all others in defining identity.

Overlapping identities create unique patterns of advantage/disadvantage. Multiple identities interact to shape experiences.

Normative social influence. Conforming to gain social approval, not information.

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

Internalized societal norms used to guide one’s behavior. Represents society's collective expectations within us.

Compliance. Outward agreement without genuine belief change.

Adopting the dominant culture, often reducing distinct heritage traits. Full cultural replacement, unlike partial acculturation.

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

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

Shared beliefs, norms, values, practices, and symbols of a group. Culture encompasses all learned aspects that define a social group.

Learning norms/roles; it shapes behavior and self-concept. Process of internalizing society's expectations throughout life.

Norms are rules for behavior; values are ideals about what matters. Norms guide actions; values guide judgments of importance.

A strongly prohibited behavior that evokes disgust or moral outrage. Violating taboos triggers strong social condemnation.

Response to behavior; positive (reward) or negative (punishment). Society enforces norms through rewards and punishments.

Socialization. The student is adapting to new cultural norms through learning.

Role conflict. Manager and friend roles have incompatible expectations.