MCAT Psychological Social Foundations Flashcards: 9b Race Ethnicity Racialization

What this deck covers

This deck focuses on 9b Race Ethnicity Racialization, 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 prejudice, as distinguished from discrimination?

Answer: A negative attitude or belief about a group. Internal thoughts/feelings, not necessarily acted upon.

Flashcard 2: Identify the concept: a group is forced to adopt the dominant culture by coercion.

Answer: Forced assimilation. Forced assimilation uses power imbalances to erase minority cultures, often through policies or violence.

Flashcard 3: What is the key distinction between race and ethnicity on the MCAT?

Answer: Race is socially assigned; ethnicity is cultural identification. Race is imposed by society; ethnicity is self-chosen.

Flashcard 4: What is stereotyping in the context of race and ethnicity?

Answer: Overgeneralized beliefs about characteristics of group members. Assumes all members share the same traits.

Flashcard 5: What is institutional racism?

Answer: Discriminatory outcomes produced by laws, policies, or institutions. Systems perpetuate inequality regardless of individual intent.

Flashcard 6: What is the definition of out-group in social psychology?

Answer: A group perceived as not belonging to one's in-group. Those seen as different from one's own group.

Flashcard 7: Which option best describes the one-drop rule historically used in the United States?

Answer: Any African ancestry classified a person as Black. Historical legal rule defining racial boundaries.

Flashcard 8: What is the sociological definition of race as used on the MCAT?

Answer: A socially constructed category based on perceived physical traits. Emphasizes social construction, not biological reality.

Flashcard 9: What is the "model minority" stereotype most commonly applied to in the United States?

Answer: Asian Americans as uniformly high-achieving and problem-free. Harmful stereotype ignoring diversity and struggles.

Flashcard 10: What is the sociological definition of race as used on the MCAT?

Answer: A socially constructed category based on perceived physical traits. Not biological but based on society's interpretation of appearance.

Flashcard 11: What is the self-fulfilling prophecy as it relates to racial stereotypes?

Answer: Expectations elicit behaviors that make the expectation come true. Biased expectations shape actual outcomes.

Flashcard 12: What is segregation?

Answer: Physical or social separation of groups, often by race or ethnicity. Segregation maintains social boundaries, reinforcing inequalities through restricted access to opportunities.

Flashcard 13: What is the sociological definition of ethnicity as used on the MCAT?

Answer: Shared cultural heritage (language, religion, customs, ancestry). Cultural elements define ethnicity, not physical traits.

Flashcard 14: What is the difference between individual racism and institutional racism?

Answer: Individual: personal bias; institutional: systemic policies and practices. Personal actions vs. organizational structures.

Flashcard 15: Identify the concept: an immigrant keeps heritage culture and adopts host culture.

Answer: Integration (biculturalism). Integration allows balanced acculturation, preserving original identity while engaging with the new culture.

Flashcard 16: What is a stereotype in social psychology?

Answer: A generalized belief about a group's traits or behaviors. Oversimplified assumptions applied to all members.

Flashcard 17: What is stereotype threat?

Answer: Performance impairment from fear of confirming a negative stereotype. Anxiety about stereotype causes actual performance decline.

Flashcard 18: What is explicit bias?

Answer: Conscious, self-reported attitudes or beliefs about a group. Explicit biases are deliberate and acknowledged, allowing for direct measurement through self-reports.

Flashcard 19: What is institutional (structural) racism?

Answer: Racial inequality produced by policies and institutions, not just individuals. Systems perpetuate inequality without individual intent.

Flashcard 20: What is racialization in sociology?

Answer: Process of assigning racial meaning to a group, trait, or practice. Racialization involves society imposing racial significance on previously non-racial elements, perpetuating inequality.

Flashcard 21: What is the sociological definition of ethnicity as used on the MCAT?

Answer: Shared cultural background (language, religion, ancestry, traditions). Ethnicity emphasizes common cultural elements that bind groups, distinguishing it from race's focus on perceived physical traits.

Flashcard 22: Identify the concept: A hospital policy is race-neutral but yields worse outcomes for one race.

Answer: Institutional (structural) racism via disparate impact. Neutral policies can still create racial disparities.

Flashcard 23: What is colorism?

Answer: Preference and differential treatment based on skin tone within groups. Colorism operates within racial groups, privileging lighter skin due to historical associations with status and beauty.

Flashcard 24: What is implicit bias as it relates to race and ethnicity?

Answer: Unconscious attitudes or associations that affect judgment and behavior. Automatic associations formed through cultural exposure.

Flashcard 25: What is the definition of a stereotype in social psychology?

Answer: Generalized belief about traits of a group. Stereotypes simplify complex social realities by attributing uniform characteristics to entire groups, often leading to bias.

Flashcard 26: What is racialization in sociology?

Answer: The process of assigning racial meaning to people, groups, or practices. Making something racial that wasn't previously seen that way.

Flashcard 27: Which term describes unequal treatment based on race that is embedded in institutions?

Answer: Institutional racism. Policies and practices that create racial inequality.

Flashcard 28: Which term describes the everyday, subtle insults or slights toward marginalized racial groups?

Answer: Microaggressions. Brief, often unintentional acts that communicate bias.

Flashcard 29: What is the definition of ethnocentrism?

Answer: Judging other cultures by one's own culture as the standard. Ethnocentrism promotes cultural superiority, often leading to misunderstanding or devaluation of other cultures.

Flashcard 30: What is pluralism (multiculturalism) as a group process?

Answer: Coexistence of groups while maintaining distinct cultural identities. Pluralism supports diversity by allowing groups to retain identities while participating in shared society.

Flashcard 31: Identify the concept: A hiring test is "race-neutral" but systematically excludes one racial group.

Answer: Institutional discrimination (disparate impact). Neutral rules can have discriminatory effects.

Flashcard 32: What is racialization in sociology?

Answer: The process of assigning racial meanings to people or groups. Creates racial categories through social processes.

Flashcard 33: What is interpersonal racism?

Answer: Racist actions or attitudes expressed between individuals. Interpersonal racism occurs through direct interactions, reflecting personal prejudices in everyday encounters.

Flashcard 34: What is the definition of minority group in sociology?

Answer: Group with less power and fewer resources, not necessarily fewer people. Minority status in sociology is defined by subordinate position in power hierarchies, independent of population size.

Flashcard 35: What is pluralism (multiculturalism) as an outcome for minority groups?

Answer: Maintaining distinct cultures while participating equally in society. Coexistence without forced cultural conformity.

Flashcard 36: What is racialization?

Answer: Assigning racial meaning to a group, practice, or relationship. Process of creating racial categories where none existed.

Flashcard 37: What is the sociological definition of race as used on the MCAT?

Answer: A socially constructed category based on perceived physical traits. Sociologists view race as a fluid social construct shaped by societal perceptions of physical differences rather than inherent biological facts.

Flashcard 38: What is the one-drop rule historically used in the United States?

Answer: Any African ancestry classified a person as Black. Historical legal principle defining racial boundaries.

Flashcard 39: What is internalized racism?

Answer: Acceptance of negative stereotypes about one's own racial group. Internalized racism leads individuals to adopt societal devaluations of their group, affecting self-perception and behavior.

Flashcard 40: What is the sociological meaning of the term "color-blind" ideology?

Answer: Claiming race does not matter, often obscuring structural inequality. Ignoring race perpetuates existing inequalities.

Flashcard 41: Identify the concept: A student underperforms after being reminded of a stereotype about their group.

Answer: Stereotype threat. Awareness of stereotype triggers anxiety and poor performance.

Flashcard 42: What is the self-fulfilling prophecy in the context of racial stereotypes?

Answer: Expectations elicit behaviors that make the expectation come true. Others' biased expectations shape actual outcomes.

Flashcard 43: What is assimilation as a group process?

Answer: Adopting the dominant culture and reducing distinct cultural differences. Assimilation involves minority groups conforming to majority norms, often at the expense of cultural heritage.

Flashcard 44: What is the key distinction between race and ethnicity on the MCAT?

Answer: Race is socially assigned; ethnicity is culturally shared/claimed. Race is imposed by society; ethnicity is self-identified.

Flashcard 45: What is discrimination?

Answer: Unequal treatment of people based on group membership. Prejudice put into action through differential treatment.

Flashcard 46: What is internalized racism?

Answer: Acceptance of negative stereotypes about one's own racial group. Self-directed prejudice from societal messages.

Flashcard 47: What is the definition of in-group in social psychology?

Answer: A group with which a person identifies and feels membership. Creates sense of belonging and shared identity.

Flashcard 48: What is the sociological definition of ethnicity?

Answer: Shared cultural heritage such as language, customs, and ancestry. Based on cultural practices, not physical appearance.

Flashcard 49: What is a microaggression in the context of race and ethnicity?

Answer: Subtle, often unintentional, biased slight toward a marginalized group. Microaggressions convey derogatory messages subtly, contributing to cumulative stress for targeted groups.

Flashcard 50: What is internalized racism?

Answer: Acceptance of negative racial beliefs by members of the targeted group. When oppressed groups believe negative stereotypes about themselves.

Flashcard 51: What is the difference between stereotype and prejudice?

Answer: Stereotype is a belief; prejudice is an evaluative attitude. Stereotypes are cognitive; prejudice adds emotional judgment.

Flashcard 52: Which concept describes racism that is embedded in normal, everyday institutional practices?

Answer: Structural racism. Same as institutional racism; built into systems.

Flashcard 53: What is a stereotype in the context of race and ethnicity?

Answer: A generalized belief about attributes of a group. Oversimplified assumptions applied to all group members.

Flashcard 54: What is discrimination in the context of race and ethnicity?

Answer: Behavior that unfairly treats people based on group membership. Actions that create unequal treatment or opportunities.

Flashcard 55: What is prejudice in the context of race and ethnicity?

Answer: Negative attitudes or feelings toward a group. Internal beliefs that precede discriminatory actions.

Flashcard 56: What is assimilation as an outcome for immigrant or minority groups?

Answer: Adopting the dominant culture, reducing distinct cultural differences. Loss of original culture through integration.

Flashcard 57: Identify the concept: A person is treated as "foreign" despite being a citizen due to appearance.

Answer: Racialization of national belonging (perpetual foreigner stereotype). Citizenship doesn't prevent racial othering.

Flashcard 58: Which term describes the belief that race has a biological, genetically fixed basis?

Answer: Biological essentialism. Incorrectly assumes race has genetic basis.

Flashcard 59: What is institutional (structural) racism?

Answer: Systemic inequity produced by laws, policies, and institutions. Embedded in societal structures, not individual acts.

Flashcard 60: What is acculturation?

Answer: Adopting aspects of a new culture after sustained contact. Cultural change through cross-cultural interaction.

Flashcard 61: Which concept best describes unequal treatment based on perceived race?

Answer: Racism. Racism encompasses systemic and individual practices that disadvantage groups based on perceived racial differences.

Flashcard 62: What is discrimination, as distinguished from prejudice?

Answer: Unequal behavior or actions toward a group. Discrimination involves tangible actions that deny equal treatment, contrasting with prejudice's internal nature.

Flashcard 63: What is the sociological definition of ethnicity as used on the MCAT?

Answer: Shared cultural traits such as language, religion, history, and customs. Cultural identity markers that groups share and pass down.

Flashcard 64: What is assimilation in the context of immigrant racial and ethnic experiences?

Answer: Gradual adoption of the dominant culture with reduced distinctiveness. Loss of original culture through dominant culture adoption.

Flashcard 65: What is implicit bias?

Answer: Automatic, unconscious attitudes that affect judgments and behavior. Implicit biases operate below conscious awareness, influencing decisions in ways that perpetuate inequality.

Flashcard 66: What is a minority group in sociology (not strictly based on numerical size)?

Answer: A group with less power and fewer privileges in a society. Power and privilege matter more than population size.

Flashcard 67: What is colorism?

Answer: Preference and privilege for lighter skin within a racial/ethnic group. Discrimination based on skin tone, not just race.

Flashcard 68: What is the sociological definition of ethnicity as used on the MCAT?

Answer: Shared cultural heritage such as language, history, religion, or customs. Cultural identity passed through generations, not biological traits.

Flashcard 69: What is institutional (structural) racism?

Answer: System-level policies/practices producing racial inequality. Institutional racism embeds bias in organizational structures, resulting in disparate outcomes without individual intent.

Flashcard 70: What is the definition of majority group in sociology?

Answer: Dominant group with greater power and social resources. Majority groups hold systemic advantages, enabling control over societal norms and resources.

Flashcard 71: Which option best describes the social construction view of race?

Answer: Racial categories change across time and place and are not biologically fixed. Society creates racial meanings, not biology.

Flashcard 72: What is racism at the individual level?

Answer: Prejudice or discrimination by individuals based on perceived race. Personal biases and actions, not systemic patterns.

Flashcard 73: What is racism as a sociological concept relevant to the MCAT?

Answer: Prejudice plus power that produces racial inequality. Requires systemic power to create inequality.

Flashcard 74: Which term best fits: racial categories shift across time and place, not biology?

Answer: Race is socially constructed (not a fixed biological category). Social construction of race explains variations in categorizations, highlighting societal rather than genetic bases.

Flashcard 75: What is discrimination, as distinguished from prejudice?

Answer: Unequal behavior or treatment toward a group. Actions taken based on group membership.

Flashcard 76: What is a stereotype?

Answer: An overgeneralized belief about a group. Fixed, oversimplified image applied to all group members.

Flashcard 77: What is discrimination in the context of race and ethnicity?

Answer: Unequal treatment of people based on group membership. Actions that disadvantage groups, not just attitudes.

Flashcard 78: What is the out-group homogeneity effect?

Answer: Perceiving out-group members as more similar than in-group members. "They all look alike" bias toward other groups.

Flashcard 79: What is passing in the context of race?

Answer: Being perceived as a member of a different racial group. When racial identity is misperceived or hidden.

Flashcard 80: What term describes the social belief that race reflects inherent biological differences?

Answer: Biological essentialism. False belief that racial categories reflect genetic differences.

Flashcard 81: Identify the key distinction between race and ethnicity in sociological terms.

Answer: Race emphasizes perceived biology; ethnicity emphasizes shared culture. Race is socially constructed; ethnicity is culturally inherited.

Flashcard 82: What is racism?

Answer: Prejudice plus power that produces systemic racial inequality. Requires institutional power, not just individual bias.

Flashcard 83: What is prejudice, as distinguished from discrimination?

Answer: Negative attitudes or beliefs about a group. Prejudice refers to preconceived opinions not based on reason, setting it apart from overt discriminatory acts.

Flashcard 84: What is racialization in sociology?

Answer: The process of assigning racial meaning to a group or relationship. Creates racial categories where none existed before.

Flashcard 85: What is the sociological definition of race as used in MCAT psychology/sociology?

Answer: A socially constructed category based on perceived physical traits. Emphasizes social construction, not biological reality.

Flashcard 86: What is the sociological definition of race as used on the MCAT?

Answer: A socially constructed category based on perceived physical traits. Social meaning attached to physical differences, not biological reality.

Flashcard 87: What is prejudice in the context of race and ethnicity?

Answer: A negative attitude or evaluation toward a group. Emotional response preceding discriminatory behavior.

Flashcard 88: What is interpersonal racism?

Answer: Racist acts or behaviors occurring between individuals. Direct person-to-person discriminatory actions.