MCAT Psychological Social Foundations Flashcards: 9b Demographic Structure Age Gender

What this deck covers

This deck focuses on 9b Demographic Structure Age Gender, 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: Which population pyramid shape indicates low growth and an aging population?

Answer: Constrictive/columnar pyramid with a narrow base and larger middle/older ages. Reflects declining birth rates and increased longevity.

Flashcard 2: In the DTM, which stage has high birth rates and high death rates?

Answer: Stage $1$ (preindustrial). Both rates high, resulting in stable but small population.

Flashcard 3: What characterizes Stage 3 of the demographic transition model?

Answer: Birth rate declines; population growth slows as deaths remain low. Urbanization and education lead to smaller family preferences.

Flashcard 4: What does “social clock” mean in the life course perspective?

Answer: Culturally preferred timing of major life events. Society's expectations for when milestones should occur.

Flashcard 5: What is the sex ratio?

Answer: Number of males per $100$ females in a population. Calculated as $\frac{\text{males}}{\text{females}} \times 100$.

Flashcard 6: Identify the age-structure diagram shape that indicates stable population size.

Answer: Stationary (roughly rectangular) age structure. Equal birth and death rates maintain population balance.

Flashcard 7: In the DTM, which stage is marked by declining birth rates and low death rates?

Answer: Stage $3$ (late industrializing). Urbanization and education lead to smaller family sizes.

Flashcard 8: In the DTM, which stage has low birth rates and low death rates with stable population size?

Answer: Stage $4$ (postindustrial). Both rates equalize at low levels, zero natural increase.

Flashcard 9: What is the definition of the life course perspective in sociology?

Answer: How age-graded roles and historical context shape lives over time. Examines how social and historical factors interact with aging.

Flashcard 10: What is role conflict?

Answer: Incompatibility between expectations of two or more social roles. Common in work-family balance challenges.

Flashcard 11: Identify the term for the process by which older adults gradually withdraw from social roles.

Answer: Disengagement theory. Controversial theory suggesting mutual withdrawal benefits society.

Flashcard 12: What defines DTM Stage 1 (preindustrial) in terms of birth and death rates?

Answer: High birth rate and high death rate; slow population growth. Typical of hunter-gatherer societies with minimal medical care.

Flashcard 13: What defines DTM Stage 2 (transitional) in terms of birth and death rates?

Answer: High birth rate with rapidly falling death rate; rapid growth. Medical advances reduce deaths while births remain high.

Flashcard 14: What is the demographic transition model (DTM) used to describe in population change?

Answer: A shift from high birth/death rates to low birth/death rates with development. Describes how societies progress through predictable population changes.

Flashcard 15: What defines DTM Stage 4 (postindustrial) in terms of birth and death rates?

Answer: Low birth rate and low death rate; stable or slow growth. Characteristic of developed nations with family planning.

Flashcard 16: State the formula for the dependency ratio in terms of age-group populations.

Answer: Dependency ratio $=\frac{P_{0-14}+P_{65+}}{P_{15-64}}\times 100$. Calculates dependent population as percentage of workers.

Flashcard 17: What is a population pyramid used to display in demography?

Answer: Age and sex distribution of a population. Visual tool showing demographic structure by age cohorts.

Flashcard 18: What is the definition of gender as a sociological construct (as distinct from sex)?

Answer: Socially constructed roles, behaviors, and expectations linked to perceived sex. Differs from biological sex; varies across cultures and time.

Flashcard 19: What is the definition of demography in the context of population studies?

Answer: Study of population size, structure, distribution, and change. Analyzes how populations grow, shrink, and change over time.

Flashcard 20: What is a cohort in demographic analysis?

Answer: Group sharing a common time-based life event (for example, birth year). Used to track generational patterns and life course effects.

Flashcard 21: What is the dependency ratio, and what age groups does it compare?

Answer: Dependents ($0$–$14$ and $65+$) relative to working-age ($15$–$64$). Measures economic burden on the productive population.

Flashcard 22: Which population pyramid shape is most consistent with rapid growth?

Answer: Expansive pyramid (broad base, narrow top). Young population with high birth rates creates wide base.

Flashcard 23: Which population pyramid shape is most consistent with slow or zero growth?

Answer: Stationary pyramid (more rectangular profile). Equal birth and death rates create uniform age distribution.

Flashcard 24: Which population pyramid shape is most consistent with population decline?

Answer: Constrictive pyramid (narrow base relative to middle). Low birth rates create smaller younger cohorts than middle-aged.

Flashcard 25: What is the sex ratio, and how is it commonly expressed?

Answer: Males per females, often per $100$ females. Indicates gender balance; $>100$ means more males.

Flashcard 26: State the formula for sex ratio as males per $100$ females.

Answer: Sex ratio $=\frac{M}{F}\times 100$. Multiplied by $100$ to express as males per $100$ females.

Flashcard 27: What is the definition of life expectancy at birth?

Answer: Average years a newborn is expected to live given current mortality rates. Key indicator of population health and development level.

Flashcard 28: What is the dependency ratio, and what groups does it compare?

Answer: Ratio of dependents (young+old) to working-age population. Measures economic burden on productive population.

Flashcard 29: State the formula for dependency ratio using $0$–$14$, $15$–$64$, and $65+$ age groups.

Answer: Dependency ratio $=\frac{(0\text{–}14)+(65+)}{15\text{–}64}$. Standard formula divides dependents by workers.

Flashcard 30: Identify the dependency ratio when $0$–$14=30$, $65+=10$, and $15$–$64=60$ (proportions).

Answer: Dependency ratio $=\frac{30+10}{60}=\frac{2}{3}$. Calculation: $\frac{40}{60}$ simplifies to $\frac{2}{3}$.