MCAT Psychological Social Foundations Flashcards: 8a Identity Formation Development

What this deck covers

This deck focuses on 8a Identity Formation Development, giving you a quick way to review the definitions, rules, and examples that matter most for MCAT Psychological Social Foundations.

How to use these flashcards

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: Identify Marcia status: a student is unengaged, has not explored, and has no clear commitments.

Answer: Identity diffusion. Low exploration and low commitment indicates lack of identity work.

Flashcard 2: What is Marcia's foreclosure identity status defined by?

Answer: Low exploration and high commitment. Committed without exploring alternatives independently.

Flashcard 3: What is the central psychosocial conflict in Erikson's young adulthood stage?

Answer: Intimacy vs isolation. Young adults face forming close relationships vs remaining emotionally distant.

Flashcard 4: Which locus of control is endorsed by: "Luck and fate determine what happens to me."?

Answer: External locus of control. Attributes outcomes to chance or forces beyond control.

Flashcard 5: What is the definition of the generalized other in Mead's theory?

Answer: Internalized societal norms used to guide behavior. Society's collective attitudes become part of self.

Flashcard 6: Which stage of Mead's self development involves understanding rules and multiple roles in games?

Answer: Game stage. Children grasp organized rules and coordinate multiple perspectives.

Flashcard 7: What is the term for behavior conforming to social expectations for males or females?

Answer: Gender role. Culturally defined expectations for masculine/feminine behavior.

Flashcard 8: What is the definition of role strain in sociology?

Answer: Stress from competing demands within a single role. Tension from conflicting expectations within one role (e.g., teacher).

Flashcard 9: What is the main psychosocial crisis in Erikson's stage: intimacy vs. isolation?

Answer: Develop close relationships without losing sense of self. Young adults balance autonomy with emotional connection.

Flashcard 10: What is identity foreclosure in Marcia's identity status model?

Answer: Commitment without exploration. Accepting identity without questioning alternatives.

Flashcard 11: What is the definition of self-efficacy (Bandura)?

Answer: Belief in one's ability to succeed in specific situations. Task-specific confidence; predicts performance and persistence.

Flashcard 12: Identify Marcia status: a student tries multiple majors but has not chosen a long-term path.

Answer: Moratorium. Active exploration without commitment characterizes this status.

Flashcard 13: What is the Erikson crisis and virtue for toddlerhood (1 to 3 years)?

Answer: Autonomy vs shame and doubt; virtue = will. Toddlers gain independence through self-control tasks, building willpower to act autonomously without excessive doubt.

Flashcard 14: What is the main psychosocial crisis in Erikson's stage: integrity vs. despair?

Answer: Accept one's life as meaningful rather than regretful. Older adults reflect on life achievements vs. missed opportunities.

Flashcard 15: What is Marcia's identity status of low exploration and low commitment?

Answer: Identity diffusion. Neither exploring options nor making commitments to identity.

Flashcard 16: What concept describes the integration of past experiences into a coherent life story in late adulthood?

Answer: Ego integrity. Accepting one's life as meaningful and worthwhile in retrospect.

Flashcard 17: Which Marcia identity status best fits: 'has considered options and chosen a career path'?

Answer: Identity achievement. Shows both exploration (considered) and commitment (chosen).

Flashcard 18: What is the definition of the looking-glass self (Cooley)?

Answer: Self-concept shaped by perceived others' judgments. We see ourselves as we imagine others see us.

Flashcard 19: What is identity moratorium in Marcia's identity status model?

Answer: Exploration without commitment. Actively exploring options before committing.

Flashcard 20: What is the term for failure to develop a clear sense of self in Erikson's adolescence stage?

Answer: Role confusion. Occurs when adolescents cannot establish coherent identity.

Flashcard 21: Identify Marcia status: a teen questions values and careers but has not chosen a direction.

Answer: Moratorium. Actively exploring but hasn't committed to any path.

Flashcard 22: What is the definition of self-concept in social psychology?

Answer: Beliefs and knowledge about oneself. Includes traits, abilities, values, and roles one attributes to oneself.

Flashcard 23: Identify the Marcia status: a student adopts the family career path without questioning alternatives.

Answer: Foreclosure. Commits without exploring, typical of parental influence.

Flashcard 24: What is the psychosocial crisis of Erikson's late adulthood stage?

Answer: Integrity vs. despair. Occurs age 65+, reflecting on life accomplishments.

Flashcard 25: What is the core idea of social identity theory regarding self-concept?

Answer: Self-concept partly derives from group memberships. We define ourselves through social categories we belong to.

Flashcard 26: What is the definition of in-group favoritism in intergroup relations?

Answer: Preference for one's own group over out-groups. People favor their own group to maintain positive self-concept.

Flashcard 27: What is the definition of identity crisis in Erikson's framework?

Answer: Period of questioning to form a coherent identity. Normal adolescent process of self-discovery.

Flashcard 28: Which Marcia identity status is defined by exploration present and commitment present?

Answer: Identity achievement. Occurs after exploring options and making commitments, leading to a stable and self-chosen identity.

Flashcard 29: What is Mead's distinction between the "I" and the "me" in self-development?

Answer: "I" = spontaneous self; "me" = internalized social self. "I" acts spontaneously; "me" reflects societal expectations.

Flashcard 30: What is Mead's distinction between the "I" and the "me" in self development?

Answer: "I" is spontaneous; "me" is internalized social expectations. "I" acts freely; "me" reflects society's influence on self.

Flashcard 31: Which Marcia identity status is high exploration and high commitment?

Answer: Identity achievement. Has explored options and made firm commitments to identity.

Flashcard 32: What is Marcia's identity moratorium status?

Answer: Exploration present; commitment absent. Actively exploring but not yet committed.

Flashcard 33: What is Mead's "generalized other" in the development of the self?

Answer: Internalized societal norms and expectations. Society's collective attitudes that individuals incorporate into self.

Flashcard 34: What is Mead's distinction between the "I" and the "me"?

Answer: "I" = spontaneous self; "me" = internalized social self. "I" acts; "me" reflects society's influence on self.

Flashcard 35: Which identity status is described by: "I have not decided on a career and I am not looking"?

Answer: Diffusion. No commitment and no active exploration of options.

Flashcard 36: What is Marcia's moratorium identity status defined by?

Answer: High exploration and low commitment. Actively exploring but not yet committed to choices.

Flashcard 37: Identify the Marcia identity status: no commitment and no active exploration.

Answer: Identity diffusion. Characterized by apathy and lack of direction in identity formation.

Flashcard 38: What is the central psychosocial conflict in Erikson's young adulthood stage?

Answer: Intimacy vs isolation. Young adults seek close relationships or risk feeling isolated.

Flashcard 39: What is the definition of role strain in relation to social roles and identity?

Answer: Stress from competing demands within one role. Single role has conflicting expectations (e.g., teacher discipline vs. support).

Flashcard 40: What is Marcia's identity status of high exploration with low commitment?

Answer: Identity moratorium. Actively exploring options but hasn't made firm commitments yet.

Flashcard 41: What is the psychosocial crisis of Erikson's middle adulthood stage?

Answer: Generativity vs. stagnation. Occurs ages 40-65, focusing on productivity and legacy.

Flashcard 42: What is the definition of role-taking in symbolic interactionism?

Answer: Adopting another person's perspective. Essential for understanding social situations and developing empathy.

Flashcard 43: Which Marcia identity status best matches: "After exploring, I committed to my values and career plan"?

Answer: Identity achievement. Demonstrates both exploration and commitment phases.

Flashcard 44: What is the main developmental task in Erikson's Intimacy vs. Isolation stage?

Answer: Forming close, committed relationships. Young adults must develop intimate relationships or risk isolation.

Flashcard 45: What is Marcia's identity status called when there is neither exploration nor commitment?

Answer: Identity diffusion. Lowest maturity: lacks both exploration and commitment.

Flashcard 46: Which identity status is described by: "I am actively considering different religions, but I have not committed"?

Answer: Moratorium. Actively exploring but hasn't committed to any option.

Flashcard 47: Which Marcia identity status is high exploration and low commitment?

Answer: Moratorium. Currently exploring but hasn't made firm commitments yet.

Flashcard 48: What is the Erikson crisis and virtue for infancy (birth to 1 year)?

Answer: Trust vs mistrust; virtue = hope. Infants develop basic trust through consistent caregiving, fostering hope as the foundational virtue for future relationships.

Flashcard 49: Identify the Marcia identity status: exploring careers/values but not yet committed.

Answer: Identity moratorium. Person is in crisis phase, actively questioning but uncommitted.

Flashcard 50: What is the core psychosocial task Erikson assigns to early adulthood?

Answer: Intimacy vs. isolation. Young adults seek close relationships or risk feeling isolated.

Flashcard 51: What does Marcia mean by "identity crisis" in identity status theory?

Answer: Active exploration of identity alternatives. Not a crisis but healthy process of trying different identities.

Flashcard 52: What is Marcia's identity status called when there is exploration without commitment?

Answer: Moratorium. Actively exploring identity options but hasn't made commitments yet.

Flashcard 53: What is Marcia's identity status defined by commitment without exploration?

Answer: Foreclosure. Person commits without exploring alternatives first.

Flashcard 54: What is the key distinction between Erikson and Piaget regarding development?

Answer: Erikson focuses on psychosocial crises, not cognition. Piaget studied cognitive development; Erikson studied social-emotional development.

Flashcard 55: What is the central psychosocial conflict in Erikson's middle adulthood stage?

Answer: Generativity vs stagnation. Middle-aged adults contribute to society or feel unproductive.

Flashcard 56: What is the difference between personal identity and social identity?

Answer: Personal: individual traits; Social: group-based self-definition. Personal is unique attributes; social derives from group memberships.

Flashcard 57: Which theorist described identity development using exploration and commitment?

Answer: James Marcia. Expanded Erikson's work with four identity statuses.

Flashcard 58: What is Mead's distinction between the "I" and the "me" in self development?

Answer: "I" is spontaneous self; "me" is internalized social self. The "I" acts spontaneously while the "me" reflects societal expectations.

Flashcard 59: Which Marcia identity status best fits: 'plans to be a physician because parents decided'?

Answer: Foreclosure. Shows commitment (plans) without exploration (parents decided).

Flashcard 60: Identify Marcia's identity status: a student chooses a career path with no exploration, following parents.

Answer: Foreclosure. No exploration but commitment present defines foreclosure.

Flashcard 61: What is the core conflict of Erikson's Identity vs. Role Confusion stage?

Answer: Identity vs. role confusion; forming a coherent self-concept. Adolescents must integrate various aspects of self into a unified identity.

Flashcard 62: What is the definition of role conflict in sociology?

Answer: Incompatible expectations between two or more roles. Tension from competing demands of different roles (e.g., parent vs. employee).

Flashcard 63: What is identity moratorium in Marcia's identity status model?

Answer: Exploration without commitment. Actively exploring options but not yet making firm choices.

Flashcard 64: Which identity status is most associated with active questioning of values and career goals?

Answer: Moratorium. This status involves trying out different identities before committing.

Flashcard 65: What is Marcia's identity diffusion status defined by?

Answer: Low exploration and low commitment. Neither exploring options nor making commitments.

Flashcard 66: Which Marcia identity status is high exploration and low commitment?

Answer: Moratorium. Currently exploring but hasn't made firm commitments yet.

Flashcard 67: What is the primary developmental task in Erikson's identity vs. role confusion stage?

Answer: Forming a stable personal identity. Adolescents explore values, beliefs, and goals to establish identity.

Flashcard 68: What is the key developmental task in Erikson's stage: identity vs. role confusion?

Answer: Form a stable identity by integrating roles, values, and beliefs. Adolescents must synthesize various aspects of self into coherent whole.

Flashcard 69: What is Marcia's identity status defined by high exploration and low commitment?

Answer: Moratorium. Person is actively exploring but hasn't committed yet.

Flashcard 70: What is Marcia's identity diffusion status?

Answer: Exploration absent; commitment absent. Neither explores nor commits to identity.

Flashcard 71: What is the Erikson crisis and virtue for school age (6 to 12 years)?

Answer: Industry vs inferiority; virtue = competence. School-age children master skills and tasks, gaining competence through productivity and avoiding feelings of inadequacy.

Flashcard 72: Which locus of control is endorsed by: "My studying determines my exam score."?

Answer: Internal locus of control. Attributes outcomes to personal effort and actions.

Flashcard 73: Identify Marcia's identity status: a student has explored options and committed to a chosen worldview.

Answer: Identity achievement. Both exploration and commitment present.

Flashcard 74: What is identity diffusion in Marcia's identity status model?

Answer: No exploration and no commitment. Lacking direction and avoiding identity decisions.

Flashcard 75: What is in-group favoritism in social identity theory?

Answer: Preferential evaluation or treatment of one's own group. Bias toward groups we belong to enhances self-esteem.

Flashcard 76: What is Mead's distinction between the 'I' and the 'me'?

Answer: I: spontaneous self; Me: internalized social expectations. I is the active self; Me is the socialized self-concept.

Flashcard 77: What is the definition of self-esteem in MCAT psychology and sociology?

Answer: Overall evaluation of one's self-worth. Affective judgment about whether we view ourselves positively or negatively.

Flashcard 78: What term describes a stable sense of self that integrates values, goals, and roles across contexts?

Answer: Identity (ego identity). Coherent self-concept formed through successful identity development.

Flashcard 79: What is the generalized other in Mead's theory of self development?

Answer: Internalized norms and expectations of society. Represents society's collective attitudes we internalize.

Flashcard 80: What is the key developmental task of adolescence in Erikson's theory?

Answer: Forming a stable identity (values, goals, roles). Adolescents must integrate various aspects into coherent self-concept.

Flashcard 81: Which identity status best fits: the person shows little interest in career or values and has no commitments?

Answer: Identity diffusion. Shows neither exploration nor commitment.

Flashcard 82: What does Marcia mean by "identity crisis" in identity status theory?

Answer: Active exploration of alternatives in roles, values, or beliefs. Refers to the period of questioning and experimenting with possibilities to form a personal identity.

Flashcard 83: Identify the Marcia identity status: committed to parents' values without questioning.

Answer: Identity foreclosure. Premature commitment without exploration, often to please others.

Flashcard 84: What is the definition of the generalized other in Mead's theory?

Answer: Internalized societal norms used to guide behavior. Society's collective attitudes become part of individual identity.

Flashcard 85: What is the key claim of social identity theory about the self-concept?

Answer: Self-concept partly derives from group memberships. We define ourselves partly through the groups we belong to.

Flashcard 86: What is Marcia's identity status called when there is commitment without exploration?

Answer: Foreclosure. Premature commitment without exploring alternatives.

Flashcard 87: Identify Marcia status: a teen shows little interest in exploring or deciding on goals.

Answer: Identity diffusion. Neither exploring nor committing; appears directionless.

Flashcard 88: What is the difference between role-taking and role-making in identity development?

Answer: Role-taking: adopt roles; Role-making: modify roles to fit self. Taking accepts roles as given; making actively shapes them.

Flashcard 89: Identify Marcia's identity status: a student shows no interest in exploring or committing to goals.

Answer: Identity diffusion. Neither exploration nor commitment present.

Flashcard 90: What is the definition of the looking-glass self in symbolic interactionism?

Answer: Self-concept shaped by perceived others' judgments. We see ourselves as we think others see us.

Flashcard 91: What is the definition of role strain in the context of identity and social roles?

Answer: Stress from incompatible demands within one role. Tension from conflicting expectations within same role.

Flashcard 92: What is the central psychosocial conflict in Erikson's young adulthood stage (about ages $18$–$40$)?

Answer: Intimacy vs. isolation. Young adults seek close relationships or risk emotional isolation.

Flashcard 93: What does Social Identity Theory propose about self-concept and group membership?

Answer: Self-esteem partly derives from in-group membership and comparison. People enhance self-esteem through positive group distinctiveness.

Flashcard 94: What is Marcia's identity status called when there is exploration and commitment?

Answer: Identity achievement. The healthiest status: explored options and made firm commitments.

Flashcard 95: What is the generalized other in Mead's theory of self development?

Answer: Internalized societal norms used to guide behavior. Collective attitudes of society become part of self-concept.

Flashcard 96: What is the definition of the out-group homogeneity effect?

Answer: Perceiving out-group members as more similar. "They're all the same" bias toward other groups.

Flashcard 97: What is the definition of the looking-glass self in symbolic interactionism?

Answer: Self-concept from perceived judgments of others. We form our self-image based on how we think others perceive us.

Flashcard 98: What is the psychosocial crisis of young adulthood in Erikson's theory (approximately ages $18$–$40$)?

Answer: Intimacy vs. isolation. Young adults form close relationships or feel isolated from others.

Flashcard 99: What is the term for an individual's evaluation of their own worth?

Answer: Self-esteem. Reflects positive or negative feelings about oneself.

Flashcard 100: What is identity diffusion in Marcia's identity status model?

Answer: No exploration and no commitment. Lacking direction with no active search for identity.