MCAT Psychological Social Foundations Flashcards: 8c Group Structure Membership

What this deck covers

This deck focuses on 8c Group Structure Membership, 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 iron law of oligarchy?

Answer: Large organizations tend to become dominated by a small elite. Michels observed democratic organizations inevitably concentrate power.

Flashcard 2: What is a bureaucracy (Weberian ideal type)?

Answer: A formal organization with hierarchy, rules, and specialization. Weber identified efficiency through rational organization.

Flashcard 3: What is a group role in sociology?

Answer: A set of behaviors and expectations tied to a position. Includes both formal (assigned) and informal (emergent) types.

Flashcard 4: What is a social network in the context of group membership?

Answer: A web of social ties linking individuals through relationships. Connections provide social capital and influence opportunities.

Flashcard 5: What is an in-group?

Answer: A group with which an individual identifies and feels membership. Creates "us vs. them" distinction based on perceived belonging.

Flashcard 6: Identify the term for a group with strong loyalty and strict norms that can demand extreme devotion.

Answer: Total institution. Total institutions control all aspects of life to resocialize members, enforcing conformity and devotion through isolation and strict routines.

Flashcard 7: What is an in-group?

Answer: A group with which an individual identifies as a member. Creates "us vs. them" distinctions in social psychology.

Flashcard 8: What is a social network?

Answer: A web of social ties connecting individuals or groups. Includes both direct and indirect connections between people.

Flashcard 9: What is a group in sociology (as distinct from a category)?

Answer: People who interact and share identity, norms, and expectations. Groups require interaction and shared elements to function as cohesive units, distinguishing them from mere collections of individuals.

Flashcard 10: What is a group norm?

Answer: A shared expectation about appropriate attitudes or behaviors. Group norms guide member behavior to maintain order and cohesion within the social unit.

Flashcard 11: What is a reference group?

Answer: A group used as a standard for self-evaluation and norms. Provides benchmarks for attitudes, behaviors, and aspirations.

Flashcard 12: Identify the term for behavior that follows group norms to gain approval.

Answer: Normative social influence. Driven by desire to fit in and avoid rejection.

Flashcard 13: Which group structure uniquely permits coalition formation: dyad or triad?

Answer: Triad. Triads enable subgroups to form for negotiation or power dynamics, unlike dyads which lack this flexibility.

Flashcard 14: What is a dyad as a social group structure?

Answer: A group of two individuals; highly intimate and unstable. Dyads rely on mutual interaction between two members, making them vulnerable to dissolution if one leaves.

Flashcard 15: What is a group norm?

Answer: Shared rules or expectations that guide group behavior. Can be explicit (written) or implicit (unspoken).

Flashcard 16: What is a secondary group?

Answer: Large, impersonal, goal-oriented ties (e.g., coworkers). Task-focused relationships with limited emotional investment.

Flashcard 17: Identify the term: A person belongs to several groups and must prioritize one identity now.

Answer: Salient identity (situationally activated group membership). Context determines which identity becomes prominent.

Flashcard 18: What is the definition of a formal organization?

Answer: A structured group with explicit rules, roles, and hierarchy. Characterized by formal procedures and defined positions.

Flashcard 19: What is a total institution?

Answer: An institution controlling all aspects of members' daily lives. Examples include prisons, military, and psychiatric hospitals.

Flashcard 20: What is the sociological definition of a social group (as opposed to a crowd)?

Answer: People with shared identity and enduring interaction patterns. Distinguishes groups from crowds by ongoing relationships and collective identity.

Flashcard 21: What is an out-group?

Answer: A group to which an individual does not belong or identify. Often viewed negatively due to in-group bias effects.

Flashcard 22: What is in-group favoritism?

Answer: Preferential attitudes or behavior toward one's in-group. Reflects automatic preference for those perceived as similar to oneself.

Flashcard 23: What is a primary group?

Answer: Small, close, enduring ties (e.g., family, close friends). Characterized by face-to-face interaction and emotional bonds.

Flashcard 24: What is in-group bias?

Answer: Preference for and favorable evaluation of one's in-group. Leads to discrimination even without real group differences.

Flashcard 25: What is a coalition in a small group?

Answer: A temporary alliance of members formed to achieve a goal. Common in triads when two unite against one member.

Flashcard 26: What is a status in sociology?

Answer: A socially defined position in a group, often with associated roles. Status positions individuals within social hierarchies, influencing interactions and access to resources.

Flashcard 27: What is a coalition in group structure?

Answer: A temporary alliance of individuals to achieve a shared goal. Forms when subgroups unite for mutual benefit or power.

Flashcard 28: What is bureaucracy as a type of formal organization?

Answer: A hierarchical system with specialized roles and formal rules. Emphasizes efficiency through division of labor and hierarchy.

Flashcard 29: What is a status, and how does it differ from a role?

Answer: Status is a position; role is expected behavior for that position. One person can hold multiple statuses with different roles.

Flashcard 30: What is a coalition in a small group?

Answer: A temporary alliance of members formed to achieve a goal. Coalitions allow subgroups to collaborate strategically, influencing group decisions and outcomes in small settings.

Flashcard 31: What is an out-group in social psychology?

Answer: A group to which an individual does not belong or identify. Often viewed as different or opposing to one's own group.

Flashcard 32: What is a formal group?

Answer: A group with defined roles, rules, and structure. Has official hierarchy and established procedures.

Flashcard 33: What is a primary group?

Answer: Small, close, long-lasting group with strong emotional ties. Examples include family and close friends.

Flashcard 34: What is a group norm?

Answer: A shared rule or expectation guiding behavior in a group. Can be formal (written) or informal (unspoken).

Flashcard 35: What is the definition of a total institution (Goffman)?

Answer: Institution controlling all aspects of life under a single authority. Examples include prisons, military, and psychiatric hospitals.

Flashcard 36: What is a formal organization?

Answer: Structured group with explicit rules, roles, and hierarchy. Contrasts with informal groups lacking official structure.

Flashcard 37: What is an in-group in social psychology?

Answer: A group with which an individual identifies as a member. Based on shared identity and sense of belonging.

Flashcard 38: What is a formal organization?

Answer: A structured group with explicit rules, roles, and hierarchy. Contrasts with informal groups lacking official structure.

Flashcard 39: What is a coalition in group structure?

Answer: A temporary alliance of members to achieve a shared objective. Forms when subgroups unite against common opposition or goal.

Flashcard 40: What is group polarization?

Answer: Group discussion strengthens the dominant initial tendency of members. Risk-takers become riskier; cautious groups become more cautious.

Flashcard 41: What is in-group bias?

Answer: Preferential attitudes or behavior toward one's in-group. Leads to favoritism even without objective justification.

Flashcard 42: What is a dyad, and what is its key structural property?

Answer: A two-person group; it is unstable if one member leaves. Most intimate group size; requires both members to exist.

Flashcard 43: What is a formal group?

Answer: A group with explicit roles, rules, and structured organization. Formal groups provide clear hierarchies and guidelines, enhancing efficiency in organized settings like workplaces.

Flashcard 44: What is a group role?

Answer: A set of expected behaviors attached to a social position. Violations can lead to sanctions from group members.

Flashcard 45: What is a social category (as distinct from a group)?

Answer: People sharing a trait but lacking interaction or shared identity. Social categories group people by common attributes without necessitating social bonds, useful for demographic analysis but not group dynamics.

Flashcard 46: What is role conflict?

Answer: Incompatible expectations between two or more roles. Arises when multiple roles have contradictory demands.

Flashcard 47: Identify the concept: adopting behaviors/attitudes to match group norms despite private disagreement.

Answer: Conformity. Differs from compliance (public only) and internalization.

Flashcard 48: What is a social network in the context of group membership?

Answer: A web of social ties linking individuals through relationships. Social networks facilitate resource exchange and information flow through interconnected relationships, impacting opportunities and support.

Flashcard 49: Which term describes a group member who provides direction and coordination?

Answer: Leader. Influences group goals and facilitates member interactions.

Flashcard 50: What is a secondary group?

Answer: Large, impersonal group organized around a specific goal or task. Task-focused with limited emotional investment.

Flashcard 51: What is a coalition in group dynamics?

Answer: A temporary alliance formed to achieve a shared goal. Often forms in triads when two unite against one.

Flashcard 52: Which concept best explains favoring in-group members over out-group members?

Answer: In-group bias. Tendency to evaluate own group more positively than others.

Flashcard 53: What is an ingroup bias?

Answer: Preferential evaluation and treatment of one's own group. Ingroup bias enhances group cohesion by favoring members, which can improve morale but also promote discrimination.

Flashcard 54: What is a status in sociology?

Answer: A social position that carries rights, duties, and expectations. Statuses organize social hierarchy and interactions.

Flashcard 55: What is a reference group?

Answer: A group used as a standard for self-evaluation and norms. May or may not be a member; provides comparison standards.

Flashcard 56: What is an in-group?

Answer: A group with which an individual identifies and feels membership. In-groups provide a sense of belonging and loyalty, shaping individual identity through shared membership.

Flashcard 57: What is an out-group?

Answer: A group perceived as not belonging to the self; "them". Out-groups create social boundaries by contrasting with one's own group, often leading to stereotypes or conflict.

Flashcard 58: What is a reference group?

Answer: A group used as a standard for self-evaluation and behavior. Can be aspirational (desired) or comparative (contrast).

Flashcard 59: What is a bureaucracy as a type of formal organization?

Answer: Hierarchical organization with specialized roles and rules. Weber's ideal type emphasizing efficiency and rationality.

Flashcard 60: What is a primary group in sociology?

Answer: A small, close-knit group with enduring, emotionally significant ties. Characterized by face-to-face interaction and emotional bonds like family.

Flashcard 61: What is a total institution?

Answer: An institution that regulates all aspects of members' daily life. Examples: prisons, military, psychiatric hospitals.

Flashcard 62: What is an ascribed status?

Answer: Status assigned at birth or involuntarily (for example, race). Cannot be changed through individual action.

Flashcard 63: What is an informal group?

Answer: A group with loosely defined roles and norms; unstructured. Informal groups emerge naturally without rigid structures, allowing flexibility in social interactions like friendships.

Flashcard 64: What is an informal group?

Answer: A group formed by personal ties with few explicit rules. Emerges spontaneously based on shared interests or friendships.

Flashcard 65: What is a secondary group in sociology?

Answer: A larger, goal-oriented group with impersonal, temporary ties. Examples include work teams or professional associations.

Flashcard 66: What is the minimal group paradigm used to demonstrate?

Answer: In-group favoritism can occur with arbitrary group assignment. Shows bias emerges from mere categorization, not conflict.

Flashcard 67: What is a peer group?

Answer: People of similar age/status who influence norms and identity. Especially influential during adolescence for socialization.

Flashcard 68: What is a primary group in sociology?

Answer: A small, close, enduring group with intimate, face-to-face ties. Primary groups foster deep emotional bonds and long-term relationships essential for socialization and support in sociology.

Flashcard 69: What is an out-group?

Answer: A group perceived as distinct from and not including the self. Often subject to stereotyping and prejudice due to perceived differences.

Flashcard 70: What does the iron law of oligarchy predict about large organizations?

Answer: A small leadership elite tends to dominate decision-making. Power concentrates at the top regardless of democratic ideals.

Flashcard 71: Which term describes adopting behaviors of a role without internal belief change?

Answer: Impression management (surface compliance). Goffman's concept of performing without internalizing.

Flashcard 72: What is a triad, and what structural feature emerges compared with a dyad?

Answer: A three-person group; coalitions and mediation can occur. Third member enables majority rule and alliance formation.

Flashcard 73: What is a reference group?

Answer: A group used for social comparison to evaluate attitudes or behavior. Provides standards for self-evaluation even without membership.

Flashcard 74: What is a formal organization?

Answer: A structured group with explicit rules, roles, and coordinated goals. Operates through established procedures rather than personal ties.

Flashcard 75: Identify the term for conforming because the group is perceived as correct.

Answer: Informational social influence. Assumes others have better knowledge in ambiguous situations.

Flashcard 76: What is a triad in group structure?

Answer: A group consisting of three people. Allows for mediation and coalition formation.

Flashcard 77: What is a social category (social group) in MCAT sociology terms?

Answer: People sharing a characteristic, with limited interaction/structure. Less cohesive than true groups; based on demographics.

Flashcard 78: What is a group sanction?

Answer: A reward or punishment used to enforce group norms. Positive sanctions reward; negative sanctions punish.

Flashcard 79: What is a role in the context of group membership?

Answer: A set of behaviors and expectations tied to a social position. Roles define expected actions for positions, facilitating coordination and predictability in group interactions.

Flashcard 80: What is a bureaucracy (Weberian sense)?

Answer: A formal organization with hierarchy, rules, and specialized roles. Weber identified efficiency through division of labor and clear authority.

Flashcard 81: What is the minimal group paradigm used to demonstrate?

Answer: In-group favoritism can occur from trivial group assignment. Shows bias emerges even with random, meaningless groupings.

Flashcard 82: What is a social network in the context of group membership?

Answer: A web of social relationships linking individuals and groups. Connects people through direct and indirect ties.

Flashcard 83: What is a dyad in group structure?

Answer: A group consisting of two people. Smallest possible group; highly intimate but unstable.

Flashcard 84: What is a secondary group in sociology?

Answer: A larger, goal-oriented group with impersonal, temporary ties. Secondary groups focus on achieving specific objectives with less emphasis on personal connections, facilitating task-oriented interactions.

Flashcard 85: What is in-group favoritism?

Answer: Preferential attitudes or behavior toward in-group members. Leads to biased resource allocation and positive evaluations.

Flashcard 86: Identify the term: a group to which a person does not belong but wants to join.

Answer: Aspiration group. Motivates behavior change to gain desired group membership.

Flashcard 87: What is a secondary group in sociology?

Answer: A larger, impersonal, goal-oriented group with formal relationships. Task-focused with temporary, role-based interactions like coworkers.

Flashcard 88: What is a social aggregate (as distinct from a group)?

Answer: People in the same place at the same time without shared identity. Social aggregates form incidentally in shared spaces, lacking the interaction needed for group formation or identity.

Flashcard 89: What is a social group (as opposed to an aggregate) in sociology?

Answer: Individuals with shared identity and patterned interaction. Requires both shared identity and regular interaction patterns.

Flashcard 90: What is an in-group bias (in-group/out-group bias)?

Answer: Systematic preference for in-group over out-group. Results from social identity and self-esteem maintenance.

Flashcard 91: What is a dyad, and what key property makes it fragile?

Answer: A two-person group; it dissolves if one member leaves. Most intimate group size; requires both members to exist.

Flashcard 92: Which term describes the set of expected behaviors associated with a social position?

Answer: Role. Guides behavior based on group expectations and norms.

Flashcard 93: What is an achieved status?

Answer: Status earned through effort or choice (for example, physician). Reflects meritocracy and individual accomplishment.

Flashcard 94: Identify the term: a group to which a person belongs but does not want to be associated.

Answer: Dissociative group. Creates identity conflict between membership and desired image.

Flashcard 95: What is a triad, and what structural feature distinguishes it from a dyad?

Answer: A three-person group; coalitions can form among members. Allows two-against-one dynamics and majority influence.

Flashcard 96: What is a group sanction?

Answer: A reward or punishment used by a group to enforce norms. Group sanctions reinforce conformity by rewarding adherence or punishing deviations from established norms.

Flashcard 97: What is an example of a secondary group most consistent with MCAT definitions?

Answer: A workplace team organized to complete a project. Secondary groups are task-oriented and temporary.

Flashcard 98: What is role strain?

Answer: Stress from competing demands within a single role. Occurs when one role has conflicting expectations.

Flashcard 99: What is a triad, and what structural feature distinguishes it from a dyad?

Answer: A three-person group; it allows coalitions and greater stability. Two members can form alliance against the third.

Flashcard 100: Which group type is typically the most stable: dyad or triad?

Answer: Triad. Can survive if one member leaves, unlike dyads.