MCAT Psychological Social Foundations Flashcards: 8a Self Concept Esteem Efficacy

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This deck focuses on 8a Self Concept Esteem Efficacy, 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 self-esteem?

Answer: Overall evaluation of one's self-worth or value. Global judgment that can be high or low across different domains.

Flashcard 2: What is the looking-glass self (Cooley)?

Answer: Self-concept shaped by perceived judgments of others. We see ourselves reflected through how we think others see us.

Flashcard 3: What is the "me" component of the self in Mead's theory?

Answer: The socialized self shaped by others' expectations. The self as object, shaped by social interactions.

Flashcard 4: Which type of social comparison is comparing to someone better off?

Answer: Upward social comparison. Often motivates self-improvement but can lower self-esteem.

Flashcard 5: What is the spotlight effect?

Answer: Overestimating how much others notice one's appearance or mistakes. This bias stems from egocentrism, where individuals overestimate the attention others pay to their own behaviors.

Flashcard 6: Which term describes the beliefs about what you can do, not how valuable you feel?

Answer: Self-efficacy. Focuses on capability, not worth or value.

Flashcard 7: Identify the concept: "I am valuable" as an overall judgment about oneself.

Answer: Self-esteem. Global self-worth evaluation, not task-specific.

Flashcard 8: Which locus of control is shown by "My effort determines my grades"?

Answer: Internal locus of control. Attributes outcomes to personal actions, not luck.

Flashcard 9: What is the difference between self-efficacy and self-esteem?

Answer: Efficacy = task ability belief; esteem = global self-worth. Efficacy is situation-specific; esteem is general.

Flashcard 10: What is self-discrepancy theory (Higgins) primarily about?

Answer: Mismatch among actual, ideal, and ought selves. Gaps between who we are, want to be, and think we should be.

Flashcard 11: What is the difference between self-efficacy and self-esteem?

Answer: Efficacy: ability belief; esteem: self-worth evaluation. One is task-specific confidence, other is global worth.

Flashcard 12: Which mismatch is most linked to agitation emotions (guilt/anxiety): actual–ideal or actual–ought?

Answer: Actual–ought discrepancy. Failing to meet obligations causes guilt/anxiety.

Flashcard 13: Which comparison involves evaluating yourself against someone worse to feel better about yourself?

Answer: Downward social comparison. Comparing to inferior others boosts self-esteem.

Flashcard 14: Which locus of control is reflected by "my effort determines my grades"?

Answer: Internal locus of control. Belief that personal actions determine outcomes.

Flashcard 15: Which source of self-efficacy is demonstrated by seeing a similar person succeed?

Answer: Vicarious experiences (modeling). Observing comparable others achieve goals enhances one's belief in personal potential via social learning.

Flashcard 16: What does self-discrepancy theory predict when real and ideal selves conflict?

Answer: Greater discrepancy is associated with negative affect. Larger gaps between selves cause distress and anxiety.

Flashcard 17: What is possible selves theory?

Answer: Representations of what one might become, hopes to be, or fears becoming. Future-oriented self-concepts that motivate current behavior.

Flashcard 18: What is an upward social comparison?

Answer: Comparing oneself to someone perceived as better off. Can motivate improvement but may decrease self-esteem.

Flashcard 19: What is the "I" component of the self in Mead's theory?

Answer: The spontaneous, impulsive, subjective self. The acting, experiencing self before social filtering.

Flashcard 20: Which term is most directly measured by the Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale?

Answer: Self-esteem. This scale measures global self-worth feelings.

Flashcard 21: What is locus of control?

Answer: Belief that outcomes are controlled internally vs externally. Shapes motivation and response to success/failure.

Flashcard 22: Which self-discrepancy is most associated with agitation-related affect?

Answer: Actual–ought discrepancy. This incongruence generates anxiety or guilt from perceived failure to meet obligations.

Flashcard 23: What is social comparison theory (Festinger)?

Answer: People evaluate themselves by comparing to others. Helps determine self-worth and abilities relative to reference groups.

Flashcard 24: What is locus of control?

Answer: Belief about whether outcomes are controlled internally or externally. Rotter's theory describes the degree to which individuals perceive control over life events as personal or environmental.

Flashcard 25: Which type of social comparison typically lowers self-evaluation by comparing to better others?

Answer: Upward social comparison. Comparing to superior others can threaten self-esteem.

Flashcard 26: Which parenting style is most associated with high self-esteem: authoritative, authoritarian, or permissive?

Answer: Authoritative parenting. High warmth + high control fosters healthy self-view.

Flashcard 27: Identify the locus of control: "I failed because the test was unfair."

Answer: External locus of control. Blames external factors rather than personal responsibility.

Flashcard 28: Identify the term: motivation to maintain a stable, consistent view of oneself.

Answer: Self-verification. People seek feedback confirming their existing self-views.

Flashcard 29: Identify the concept: "I cannot do this task," despite having the required skills and resources.

Answer: Low self-efficacy. Doubting capability despite objective competence indicates efficacy beliefs.

Flashcard 30: Which mismatch is most linked to dejection emotions (sadness): actual–ideal or actual–ought?

Answer: Actual–ideal discrepancy. Failing to meet aspirations causes sadness/disappointment.

Flashcard 31: Identify whether this reflects internal or external locus: "The test was unfair, so I failed."

Answer: External locus of control. Blames external factors rather than personal responsibility.

Flashcard 32: Which concept is threatened when a person fears confirming a negative group stereotype?

Answer: Stereotype threat. Steele's concept: anxiety about confirming stereotypes impairs performance.

Flashcard 33: What is the self-reference effect?

Answer: Better memory for information linked to the self. Self-relevant material is encoded and recalled more effectively.

Flashcard 34: Identify whether this reflects internal or external locus: "My grade depends on my effort."

Answer: Internal locus of control. Attributes success to personal effort, showing internal control.

Flashcard 35: Which locus of control is the belief that outcomes depend on one's actions?

Answer: Internal locus of control. Associated with higher self-efficacy and achievement motivation.

Flashcard 36: What is self-discrepancy theory's key claim about emotional discomfort?

Answer: Distress arises from gaps among actual, ideal, and ought selves. Higgins' theory links self-concept conflicts to emotions.

Flashcard 37: What is the generalized other in symbolic interactionism?

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

Flashcard 38: Which term describes the self as a subject that thinks and acts: "I" or "me"?

Answer: "I" (the self as subject/agent). The experiencing, acting self vs. the observed self.

Flashcard 39: What are Bandura's four main sources of self-efficacy?

Answer: Mastery, vicarious, verbal persuasion, physiological state. Direct experience, modeling, encouragement, and emotional arousal build efficacy.

Flashcard 40: What is the generalized other in symbolic interactionism?

Answer: Internalized societal norms and expectations guiding self and behavior. This concept in symbolic interactionism refers to the collective attitudes of society that individuals internalize to regulate their actions.

Flashcard 41: In self-discrepancy theory, which discrepancy is most associated with agitation?

Answer: Actual–ought discrepancy. Failing obligations creates anxiety and guilt.

Flashcard 42: Which term describes the self as a subject of experience (the knower)?

Answer: The "I" self. William James distinguished the experiencing self from the known self.

Flashcard 43: Which self-discrepancy is most associated with dejection-related affect?

Answer: Actual–ideal discrepancy. This gap leads to feelings of disappointment or sadness due to unfulfilled aspirations.

Flashcard 44: What is the generalized other in symbolic interactionism?

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

Flashcard 45: What is the difference between self-esteem and self-efficacy?

Answer: Self-esteem = worth; self-efficacy = capability for a task. Esteem is global value; efficacy is task-specific confidence.

Flashcard 46: Which concept is most directly measured by a question about "overall self-worth"?

Answer: Self-esteem. Self-worth evaluation is the core of self-esteem.

Flashcard 47: What is self-efficacy according to Bandura?

Answer: Belief in one's ability to execute actions to reach goals. Task-specific confidence that influences motivation and persistence.

Flashcard 48: What is self-esteem?

Answer: Overall evaluative judgment of one's self-worth. Reflects positive or negative feelings about yourself.

Flashcard 49: What is self-concept in psychology?

Answer: An individual's beliefs and knowledge about the self. Encompasses all cognitive and affective representations of who one is.

Flashcard 50: Which concept best predicts persistence after setbacks: self-esteem or self-efficacy?

Answer: Self-efficacy. Task-specific confidence drives continued effort.

Flashcard 51: What is self-concept in social psychology?

Answer: A person's overall set of beliefs and knowledge about the self. This definition encompasses the multifaceted cognitive framework individuals develop regarding their own identity and attributes.

Flashcard 52: What is the difference between self-esteem and self-efficacy?

Answer: Self-esteem is global worth; self-efficacy is task-specific capability. The distinction lies in self-esteem's broad evaluative nature versus self-efficacy's focus on perceived competence in defined contexts.

Flashcard 53: Which concept is the tendency to tie one's identity and esteem to group membership?

Answer: Social identity. Part of self-concept derived from group memberships and affiliations.

Flashcard 54: What is self-efficacy?

Answer: Belief in one's ability to succeed at specific tasks. Bandura's concept focusing on confidence in specific abilities.

Flashcard 55: Identify the type of social comparison: comparing yourself to someone better off.

Answer: Upward social comparison. Comparing to superior others for inspiration or evaluation.

Flashcard 56: What is self-concept in social psychology?

Answer: An individual's beliefs and knowledge about the self. Encompasses traits, roles, values, and memories about oneself.

Flashcard 57: Which locus of control is the belief that outcomes depend on luck or external forces?

Answer: External locus of control. Often linked to lower self-efficacy and learned helplessness.

Flashcard 58: What is self-esteem?

Answer: An individual's overall evaluation of self-worth. Reflects how positively or negatively we view ourselves.

Flashcard 59: Which term describes the self as an object of reflection: "I" or "me"?

Answer: "Me" (the self as object/content). The self we can observe and describe to others.

Flashcard 60: What is locus of control?

Answer: Belief that outcomes are controlled internally versus externally. Perception of personal control over life events.

Flashcard 61: What is locus of control?

Answer: Belief that outcomes are controlled internally versus externally. Internal locus links outcomes to self; external to outside forces.

Flashcard 62: Identify the locus of control: "My grade depends mainly on my effort."

Answer: Internal locus of control. Attributes success to personal effort, not luck.

Flashcard 63: What is the difference between the real self and the ideal self?

Answer: Real: current self; Ideal: self one wishes to be. Real is who you are; ideal is who you aspire to be.

Flashcard 64: What is self-enhancement?

Answer: Motivation to maintain or increase positive self-views. Drive to feel good about oneself.

Flashcard 65: What is self-concept in social psychology?

Answer: An individual's beliefs and knowledge about the self. Encompasses all mental representations of who we are.

Flashcard 66: What is self-concept in social psychology?

Answer: An individual's beliefs and knowledge about the self. Encompasses perceptions, thoughts, and feelings about oneself.

Flashcard 67: Identify the concept: "I decide my grades by how hard I study," as a stable belief about outcomes.

Answer: Internal locus of control. Believing personal effort determines outcomes reflects internal control.

Flashcard 68: What is the looking-glass self?

Answer: Self-concept shaped by perceived judgments of others. Cooley's theory: we see ourselves through others' eyes.

Flashcard 69: What is the social self (social identity) within self-concept?

Answer: Self-definition derived from group memberships and roles. Part of self-concept based on social categories.

Flashcard 70: What is social comparison theory?

Answer: People evaluate themselves by comparing to others. Self-assessment occurs through comparison with others.

Flashcard 71: What is the "me" in Mead's theory of self?

Answer: The internalized social self shaped by others' expectations. Reflects societal rules and how others view us.

Flashcard 72: Identify the concept: "I did not study so a poor score will not reflect my ability."

Answer: Self-handicapping. Creates excuse to protect self-worth from failure.

Flashcard 73: Which concept is MOST directly assessed by the question: "Can I do this task?"

Answer: Self-efficacy. Focuses on capability beliefs for specific tasks or challenges.

Flashcard 74: What is self-efficacy according to Bandura?

Answer: Belief in one's ability to execute behaviors to reach goals. Task-specific confidence, not general self-worth.

Flashcard 75: Which concept is MOST directly assessed by the question: "Who am I?"

Answer: Self-concept. This question prompts reflection on one's identity and attributes.

Flashcard 76: What is self-esteem?

Answer: Overall evaluative judgment of one's self-worth. Reflects how positively or negatively one views oneself.

Flashcard 77: What is self-esteem?

Answer: A person's overall evaluation of self-worth. This captures the affective component where individuals assess their overall value and competence.

Flashcard 78: Which locus of control is reflected by "luck determines my grades"?

Answer: External locus of control. Belief that outside forces determine outcomes.

Flashcard 79: Which option best describes an internal locus of control statement?

Answer: "My effort largely determines my performance.". Attributes outcomes to personal actions, not external factors.

Flashcard 80: Identify the type of social comparison: comparing yourself to someone worse off.

Answer: Downward social comparison. Comparing to inferior others to boost self-esteem.

Flashcard 81: Identify the concept: "I can learn this material if I practice consistently."

Answer: High self-efficacy. Shows confidence in ability to succeed through effort.

Flashcard 82: Which term refers to beliefs about one's abilities in a specific domain (not global worth)?

Answer: Self-efficacy. Domain-specific confidence contrasts with global self-esteem.

Flashcard 83: What is the ideal self in Rogers's theory?

Answer: The self one wishes to be (aspirations and goals). Contrasts with actual self; drives personal growth.

Flashcard 84: What is self-schema?

Answer: Cognitive framework organizing information about the self. Mental structures that guide processing of self-relevant information.

Flashcard 85: What is the difference between self-efficacy and self-esteem?

Answer: Efficacy is task-specific ability belief; esteem is global self-worth. One is situational confidence; the other is overall worth.

Flashcard 86: Identify the bias: "I aced it because I am smart; I failed because the test was unfair."

Answer: Self-serving bias. Internal attribution for success, external for failure.

Flashcard 87: What is the ideal self in self-discrepancy theory?

Answer: Attributes one wants to possess (hopes and aspirations). The self you wish to become, driving motivation.

Flashcard 88: What is the "me" component of the self in Mead's theory?

Answer: The socialized self shaped by others' expectations. Develops through social interactions and role-taking.

Flashcard 89: What is self-discrepancy (Higgins) in its simplest form?

Answer: Mismatch between actual self and ideal or ought self. Gap between who we are and who we want/should be.

Flashcard 90: What is the "I" in Mead's model of the self?

Answer: Spontaneous, subjective, acting self. The creative, impulsive aspect responding to social situations.

Flashcard 91: What is the generalized other in Mead's theory of self?

Answer: Internalized societal norms used to evaluate one's behavior. Mead's concept of society's collective attitudes within the self.

Flashcard 92: What is the difference between self-esteem and self-efficacy?

Answer: Self-esteem = worth; self-efficacy = perceived capability for a task. Esteem is global; efficacy is task-specific.

Flashcard 93: Which concept refers to beliefs about what one can do rather than one's worth?

Answer: Self-efficacy. Focuses on capability beliefs, not self-worth judgments.

Flashcard 94: What is the social identity component of self-concept?

Answer: The self derived from group memberships and social categories. Self-concept based on group affiliations.

Flashcard 95: Which comparison tends to protect self-esteem: upward or downward comparison?

Answer: Downward comparison. Comparing to worse-off others maintains positive self-view.

Flashcard 96: What is the definition of locus of control?

Answer: Belief about whether outcomes are controlled internally or externally. Rotter's concept of perceived control over life events.

Flashcard 97: Which option best explains why mastery experiences increase self-efficacy?

Answer: Past successful performance strengthens capability beliefs. Direct experience of success builds confidence in abilities.

Flashcard 98: What is self-handicapping?

Answer: Creating obstacles to provide excuses for potential failure. Protects self-esteem by having ready-made excuses.

Flashcard 99: Identify the term: motivation to seek and interpret information that enhances the self.

Answer: Self-enhancement. Drive to maintain positive self-image through biased processing.

Flashcard 100: Which locus of control is linked to believing outcomes depend on luck or powerful others: internal or external?

Answer: External locus of control. Can lead to passivity and reduced effort in challenging situations.