MCAT Psychological Social Foundations Flashcards: 8b Prejudice Stereotypes Bias

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This deck focuses on 8b Prejudice Stereotypes Bias, 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 ultimate attribution error?

Answer: Attributing out-group negatives to traits and positives to situations. It extends the fundamental attribution error to groups, protecting in-group esteem by derogating out-groups.

Flashcard 2: Which option best describes the IAT (Implicit Association Test) in bias research?

Answer: A reaction-time measure of automatic associations. Measures speed of pairing concepts to reveal implicit biases.

Flashcard 3: Which hypothesis predicts that intergroup contact reduces prejudice under equal status and shared goals?

Answer: Contact hypothesis. Positive interactions reduce prejudice with proper conditions.

Flashcard 4: Which theory states that prejudice is reduced by equal status, cooperation, and institutional support?

Answer: Allport's contact hypothesis. Intergroup contact reduces prejudice under specific conditions.

Flashcard 5: What is the just-world hypothesis and its link to prejudice?

Answer: Belief the world is fair; victims are seen as deserving outcomes. Reduces anxiety by attributing misfortune to personal failings.

Flashcard 6: What is the just-world hypothesis, and how does it relate to prejudice?

Answer: Belief people get what they deserve; can justify inequality. Rationalizes suffering as deserved outcomes.

Flashcard 7: Identify the concept: Prejudice increases when groups compete for scarce resources.

Answer: Realistic conflict theory. Competition for limited resources creates intergroup hostility.

Flashcard 8: Identify the bias: "I remember the one rude out-group member more than many polite ones."

Answer: Availability heuristic. Vivid negative examples overshadow positive experiences.

Flashcard 9: What is scapegoat theory as an explanation for prejudice?

Answer: Displacing frustration onto a vulnerable out-group. Frustration gets redirected toward less powerful targets.

Flashcard 10: What is realistic conflict theory?

Answer: Prejudice arises from competition over scarce resources. Groups compete for limited resources, creating intergroup hostility.

Flashcard 11: Which concept explains prejudice as competition over scarce resources between groups?

Answer: Realistic conflict theory. Groups compete for limited resources, creating hostility.

Flashcard 12: Identify the concept: A person avoids a group member to reduce anxiety, reinforcing bias.

Answer: Avoidance-based maintenance of prejudice (negative reinforcement). Anxiety reduction reinforces avoidant behavior.

Flashcard 13: Identify the concept: 'Refusing to hire someone because of group membership.'

Answer: Discrimination. Action-based prejudice affecting opportunities.

Flashcard 14: What is the halo effect?

Answer: A global positive impression biases judgments of specific traits. The halo effect generalizes overall positivity, leading to inflated ratings on unrelated attributes.

Flashcard 15: What is the fundamental attribution error, and how does it relate to bias?

Answer: Overattributing others' behavior to traits rather than situations. Ignoring situational factors reinforces negative stereotypes.

Flashcard 16: What is in-group bias?

Answer: Favoring one's in-group over out-groups. Preference for one's own group enhances self-esteem.

Flashcard 17: What is the horns effect?

Answer: A global negative impression biases judgments of specific traits. The horns effect generalizes overall negativity, causing undervaluation of specific qualities.

Flashcard 18: Which option best states the contact hypothesis conditions that reduce prejudice?

Answer: Equal status, cooperation, common goals, and institutional support. Allport's four conditions for effective intergroup contact.

Flashcard 19: What is the definition of a stereotype in social psychology?

Answer: A generalized belief about a group applied to its members. Cognitive shortcuts that oversimplify group characteristics.

Flashcard 20: What is the self-fulfilling prophecy as it relates to stereotypes?

Answer: Expectations elicit behaviors that make the expectation come true. Biased expectations create their own reality through behavior.

Flashcard 21: What does the Implicit Association Test (IAT) aim to measure?

Answer: Strength of implicit associations between concepts and evaluations. IAT measures reaction time differences to reveal unconscious biases.

Flashcard 22: Which measure is commonly used to assess implicit attitudes by reaction time?

Answer: Implicit Association Test (IAT). Measures speed of associating concepts with groups.

Flashcard 23: Which concept describes prejudice that persists because it is embedded in institutions and policies?

Answer: Institutional (systemic) discrimination. Bias built into social structures beyond individual attitudes.

Flashcard 24: Which term describes the belief that one's own group is superior to others?

Answer: Ethnocentrism. Viewing one's culture as the standard for judging others.

Flashcard 25: What is stereotype lift?

Answer: Performance improvement when a negative stereotype targets others. Comparison to stereotyped groups boosts performance.

Flashcard 26: What is scapegoating in the context of prejudice?

Answer: Blaming a less powerful group for one's problems or frustrations. Redirects anger from true source to vulnerable targets.

Flashcard 27: What is scapegoating as an explanation for prejudice?

Answer: Blaming a less powerful group for one's frustrations. Redirects anger from true sources to vulnerable targets.

Flashcard 28: What is the definition of prejudice in social psychology?

Answer: A negative attitude or affect toward a group and its members. Emotional component that precedes discriminatory behavior.

Flashcard 29: What is the fundamental attribution error in intergroup contexts?

Answer: Overattributing others' behavior to dispositions rather than situations. This error biases intergroup perceptions by ignoring situational factors, reinforcing stereotypes about out-groups.

Flashcard 30: What is prejudice in social psychology?

Answer: A negative attitude or feeling toward a group and its members. Prejudice involves preconceived opinions that are not based on reason or actual experience, fostering hostility toward out-groups.

Flashcard 31: What is confirmation bias in the context of stereotypes?

Answer: Seeking or interpreting evidence to support existing stereotypes. Selective attention reinforces preexisting beliefs.

Flashcard 32: What is the definition of a stereotype in social psychology?

Answer: A generalized belief about a group and its members. Stereotypes are cognitive shortcuts about group characteristics.

Flashcard 33: What is the definition of prejudice (attitude component) toward a group?

Answer: A negative (or positive) evaluation of a group and its members. Affective component that can be positive or negative.

Flashcard 34: What is the fundamental attribution error, and how can it support prejudice?

Answer: Overattributing others' behavior to traits; can reinforce stereotypes. Ignoring situational factors strengthens trait-based stereotypes.

Flashcard 35: What is the definition of microaggressions?

Answer: Subtle, often unintentional slights that convey derogatory messages. Small acts accumulate to create hostile environments.

Flashcard 36: What does social identity theory predict about self-esteem and group membership?

Answer: People boost self-esteem by favoring in-groups over out-groups. Group favoritism enhances personal self-worth.

Flashcard 37: What is a stereotype in social psychology?

Answer: A generalized belief about traits of members of a group. Stereotypes simplify social perception by categorizing individuals based on group traits, often leading to overgeneralizations.

Flashcard 38: Which term refers to unequal treatment due to group membership: prejudice, stereotype, or discrimination?

Answer: Discrimination. Only discrimination involves actual behavioral differences.

Flashcard 39: What is the definition of stereotype threat?

Answer: Performance impairment due to fear of confirming a negative stereotype. Anxiety about stereotypes can create self-fulfilling prophecies.

Flashcard 40: Which concept explains why people categorize others quickly using mental shortcuts?

Answer: Heuristics (cognitive shortcuts). Mental efficiency leads to rapid social categorization.

Flashcard 41: What is the fundamental attribution error?

Answer: Overattributing others' behavior to disposition over situation. Underestimating situational factors in others' actions.

Flashcard 42: What is scapegoating as an explanation for prejudice?

Answer: Blaming a marginalized group for broader problems. Displaces frustration onto vulnerable targets.

Flashcard 43: Identify the concept: Explaining one out-group member's success as "luck" rather than ability.

Answer: Ultimate attribution error. This attribution protects in-group bias by dismissing out-group achievements as external rather than internal.

Flashcard 44: What is an in-group in the context of group bias?

Answer: The group with which an individual identifies. In-groups provide a sense of belonging and identity, often leading to biased favoritism.

Flashcard 45: What is aversive racism?

Answer: Endorsing egalitarian values while holding implicit negative attitudes. Conflict between conscious values and unconscious biases.

Flashcard 46: What does social identity theory propose about prejudice and self-esteem?

Answer: People favor in-groups to enhance self-concept and self-esteem. Social identity theory links group favoritism to personal self-worth, as in-group success enhances individual esteem.

Flashcard 47: Identify the concept: 'Believing all members of an out-group are basically the same.'

Answer: Out-group homogeneity effect. Perceiving less variability in groups we don't belong to.

Flashcard 48: What is the self-fulfilling prophecy in the context of bias?

Answer: Expectations elicit behavior that confirms the expectations. Creates reality through biased perceptions and interactions.

Flashcard 49: Which term describes a belief about a group, an attitude toward it, and behavior toward it, respectively?

Answer: Stereotype, prejudice, discrimination. Represents cognitive, affective, and behavioral components.

Flashcard 50: What is an out-group in the context of group bias?

Answer: A group to which an individual does not belong. Out-groups are perceived as different, contributing to intergroup bias and conflict.

Flashcard 51: What is the definition of prejudice in social psychology?

Answer: A negative attitude or feeling toward a group or its members. Prejudice involves emotional/evaluative responses, not just beliefs.

Flashcard 52: What is the self-fulfilling prophecy in intergroup interactions?

Answer: Expectations elicit behaviors that make the expectations come true. Perceiver's expectations shape target's actual behavior.

Flashcard 53: What is the definition of explicit bias?

Answer: Conscious, self-reported attitudes toward a group. Deliberate attitudes accessible through introspection.

Flashcard 54: Identify the phenomenon: "I treated him as untrustworthy, and he became hostile to me."

Answer: Self-fulfilling prophecy. Negative expectations created hostile response confirming bias.

Flashcard 55: Which measure is commonly used to assess implicit attitudes toward social groups?

Answer: Implicit Association Test (IAT). Measures reaction time differences in category associations.

Flashcard 56: What is the frustration–aggression hypothesis in the context of prejudice?

Answer: Frustration increases aggression, often displaced onto out-groups. Links blocked goals to misdirected hostility.

Flashcard 57: Identify the concept: "They are all alike," said about an unfamiliar group.

Answer: Out-group homogeneity effect. This perception arises from cognitive shortcuts that homogenize unfamiliar groups to simplify processing.

Flashcard 58: What is modern (symbolic) racism?

Answer: Opposition framed as nonracial values while maintaining prejudice. Disguises prejudice as principled conservatism.

Flashcard 59: Which term describes a stereotype about one's own group that is internalized by its members?

Answer: Internalized stereotype. Self-stereotyping occurs when group members accept stereotypes about themselves.

Flashcard 60: Which term describes favoritism toward one's own group over an out-group?

Answer: In-group bias. Tendency to favor members of one's own social group.

Flashcard 61: Identify the term for a subtle, unintentional, everyday slight toward a marginalized group.

Answer: Microaggression. These brief indignities communicate hostile or derogatory messages.

Flashcard 62: What does realistic conflict theory propose about intergroup prejudice?

Answer: Competition over scarce resources increases intergroup hostility. This theory explains prejudice as arising from real competitions, where groups vie for limited resources like jobs or territory.

Flashcard 63: What is social identity theory's core claim about prejudice?

Answer: In-group bias supports self-esteem via group membership. We favor in-groups to maintain positive social identity.

Flashcard 64: Identify the concept: People classify themselves and others into groups to boost self-esteem.

Answer: Social identity theory. In-group bias enhances positive social identity.

Flashcard 65: What is out-group homogeneity bias?

Answer: Perceiving out-group members as more similar than they are. We see less variability in out-groups than in our own group.

Flashcard 66: What is an implicit bias?

Answer: An unconscious association that can affect judgments and actions. Automatic responses outside conscious awareness.

Flashcard 67: Which theory states that prejudice can decrease when groups have equal status and shared goals?

Answer: Contact hypothesis (Allport). Positive intergroup contact reduces prejudice under ideal conditions.

Flashcard 68: What is the definition of microaggressions?

Answer: Subtle, often unintentional slights toward marginalized groups. Cumulative impact creates hostile environments.

Flashcard 69: What is the out-group homogeneity effect?

Answer: Perceiving out-group members as more similar than they are. Reduces cognitive load by minimizing perceived differences.

Flashcard 70: What is in-group bias?

Answer: Favoring one's own group over out-groups. Preferential treatment for members of one's group.

Flashcard 71: What is the definition of discrimination (behavior component) toward a group?

Answer: Unequal treatment of people based on group membership. Behavioral manifestation of prejudiced attitudes.

Flashcard 72: What is the definition of ethnocentrism?

Answer: Viewing one's own culture as superior or as the standard. Judges other cultures by one's own cultural standards.

Flashcard 73: What is discrimination in social psychology?

Answer: Behavior that disadvantages people based on group membership. Discrimination enacts prejudice through actions that deny equal treatment, perpetuating social inequalities.

Flashcard 74: What is self-fulfilling prophecy in the context of stereotypes?

Answer: Expectations elicit behaviors that make the expectation come true. Biased expectations create confirming behaviors.

Flashcard 75: What is an explicit bias?

Answer: A conscious, self-reported attitude toward a group. Deliberate attitudes accessible through introspection.

Flashcard 76: Which term best describes an automatic, unconscious attitude toward a group?

Answer: Implicit bias. Implicit biases operate below conscious awareness, influencing judgments and behaviors automatically.

Flashcard 77: What is the definition of discrimination in social psychology?

Answer: Behavior that disadvantages people based on group membership. Behavioral manifestation of prejudice in actions.

Flashcard 78: Which concept describes improved performance when a stereotype is positive and salient?

Answer: Stereotype lift. Positive stereotypes can boost performance when made salient.

Flashcard 79: What is the out-group homogeneity effect?

Answer: Perceiving out-group members as more similar than they are. "They all look alike" phenomenon reduces individual recognition.

Flashcard 80: What is the self-fulfilling prophecy in the context of bias?

Answer: Expectations elicit behaviors that make the expectations come true. This process perpetuates bias as stereotyped individuals may unconsciously conform to expected behaviors.

Flashcard 81: Identify the concept: "He is rude because he is in that group," ignoring situational factors.

Answer: Ultimate attribution error. Attributing negative behavior to group membership.

Flashcard 82: Which theory states that group membership contributes to self-esteem and drives in-group favoritism?

Answer: Social identity theory. People derive self-worth from group achievements.

Flashcard 83: What is the ultimate attribution error?

Answer: Explaining out-group negatives as dispositional and positives as situational. Extends FAE with intergroup bias in causal attributions.

Flashcard 84: What is scapegoating as an explanation for prejudice?

Answer: Blaming a weaker group for one's frustrations or problems. Scapegoating displaces aggression onto vulnerable targets, serving as a psychological outlet for societal frustrations.

Flashcard 85: What is self-fulfilling prophecy in the context of stereotypes?

Answer: Expectations elicit behavior that makes the expectation come true. Others' expectations shape our behavior to match them.

Flashcard 86: Which term describes a positive stereotype that still harms by objectifying a group?

Answer: Benevolent prejudice. Seemingly positive but limits and objectifies groups.

Flashcard 87: What is confirmation bias as it relates to stereotypes?

Answer: Seeking or interpreting evidence to support an existing stereotype. Confirmation bias maintains stereotypes by selectively processing information that aligns with preconceptions.

Flashcard 88: What is confirmation bias in evaluating stereotypes?

Answer: Seeking or remembering evidence that supports preexisting beliefs. Selectively noticing stereotype-consistent information.

Flashcard 89: What is the definition of in-group bias?

Answer: Preference for one's own group over out-groups. Evolutionary tendency to favor those similar to ourselves.

Flashcard 90: Which concept explains why people may avoid information that challenges their stereotypes?

Answer: Confirmation bias. Selective attention to stereotype-confirming information.

Flashcard 91: What is the definition of implicit bias?

Answer: Unconscious attitudes or associations that influence judgments. Automatic associations operate below conscious awareness.

Flashcard 92: Which concept describes holding positive stereotypes that still reinforce inequality?

Answer: Benevolent prejudice (benevolent sexism). Seemingly positive but limits opportunities and agency.

Flashcard 93: What does the contact hypothesis propose reduces prejudice most reliably?

Answer: Cooperative contact with equal status and shared goals. Meaningful interaction under optimal conditions reduces bias.

Flashcard 94: What is the definition of discrimination in social psychology?

Answer: Behavior that disadvantages people based on group membership. Discrimination is prejudice enacted through differential treatment.

Flashcard 95: Identify the bias: "She is a woman, so she is probably nurturing."

Answer: Stereotyping (gender stereotype). Assumes traits based solely on group membership.

Flashcard 96: Which term describes a belief about a group, an attitude toward it, and a behavior toward it?

Answer: Stereotype, prejudice, and discrimination (respectively). Cognitive, affective, and behavioral components of bias.

Flashcard 97: Which term best describes a deliberate, conscious attitude toward a group?

Answer: Explicit bias. Explicit biases are intentional and aware, allowing individuals to articulate and sometimes control them.

Flashcard 98: Which intervention best matches Allport's contact hypothesis for reducing prejudice?

Answer: Cooperative contact with equal status and institutional support. Allport's hypothesis posits that structured positive interactions reduce prejudice by fostering empathy and common goals.

Flashcard 99: What does the Implicit Association Test (IAT) primarily measure?

Answer: Strength of implicit associations between concepts and evaluations. The IAT assesses unconscious preferences by measuring response times in associating concepts with positive or negative attributes.

Flashcard 100: What is the fundamental attribution error as it relates to stereotypes?

Answer: Overattributing others' behavior to traits rather than situations. Ignores situational factors when judging out-groups.