MCAT Psychological Social Foundations Flashcards: 8a Social Identity Group Membership

What this deck covers

This deck focuses on 8a Social Identity Group Membership, 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 the concept: "I am a student, so I adopt my school's norms and values."

Answer: Internalization of group membership into self-concept (social identity). Shows how group membership becomes part of personal identity.

Flashcard 2: What is the out-group homogeneity effect?

Answer: Perceiving out-group members as more similar than they are. We see 'them' as all alike but 'us' as diverse individuals.

Flashcard 3: What is depersonalization in self-categorization theory?

Answer: Seeing self as a group prototype rather than a unique individual. Shifts behavior from individual to group-based.

Flashcard 4: What is role strain?

Answer: Stress from competing demands within a single role. Role strain occurs when multiple obligations within one role create tension, impacting individual well-being and performance.

Flashcard 5: Identify the concept: Two random groups are assigned, and each allocates more rewards to their own group.

Answer: Minimal group paradigm (in-group favoritism from categorization). The paradigm illustrates how mere categorization triggers intergroup bias, even without prior history or conflict.

Flashcard 6: Identify the concept: Favoring your team after random assignment to "Team A."

Answer: Minimal group paradigm (in-group favoritism from arbitrary grouping). Shows bias emerges from mere categorization alone.

Flashcard 7: What is a master status?

Answer: A status that strongly shapes identity and social interactions. A master status dominates others in shaping how individuals are perceived and treated in social contexts.

Flashcard 8: What is a primary group?

Answer: Small, close, enduring group with strong emotional ties. Primary groups, such as families, offer emotional support and socialization through intimate, long-term relationships.

Flashcard 9: What is an outgroup in the context of social identity?

Answer: A group to which an individual does not belong or identify. The 'out' prefix indicates exclusion or non-membership status.

Flashcard 10: What is the primary distinction between normative and informational social influence?

Answer: Normative: fit in; informational: be correct using others as evidence. Normative seeks acceptance; informational seeks accuracy.

Flashcard 11: What is social categorization in social identity theory?

Answer: Classifying people into groups to simplify the social world. Mental process of sorting people into group categories.

Flashcard 12: Identify the concept: People adopt group norms to gain acceptance.

Answer: Normative social influence. Conformity driven by desire to fit in and be liked.

Flashcard 13: Identify the best label: After random group assignment, participants allocate more rewards to their own group.

Answer: In-group favoritism (minimal group effect). Demonstrates bias from mere categorization alone.

Flashcard 14: What is an out-group in the context of social identity?

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

Flashcard 15: What is group polarization?

Answer: Group discussion shifts members toward more extreme positions. Initial attitudes intensify through repeated group exposure.

Flashcard 16: What is the definition of an in-group?

Answer: A group with which an individual identifies and feels membership. Groups we belong to shape our identity and behavior.

Flashcard 17: What is a minimal group paradigm finding about group behavior?

Answer: Arbitrary group assignment can produce in-group favoritism. Tajfel's experiments demonstrate that mere categorization into groups, even arbitrarily, elicits discriminatory behavior favoring one's group.

Flashcard 18: Which option best describes the contact hypothesis for reducing prejudice?

Answer: Intergroup contact under equal status and shared goals reduces bias. Positive interactions with cooperation reduce prejudice.

Flashcard 19: Which concept explains why a stigmatized person may underperform when a negative stereotype is salient?

Answer: Stereotype threat. Anxiety about confirming stereotypes impairs performance.

Flashcard 20: What is positive distinctiveness in social identity theory?

Answer: Motivation to view one's in-group as positively different. This drive in social identity theory encourages intergroup differentiation to enhance the perceived superiority of one's group.

Flashcard 21: Identify the concept: People conform because they believe the group is correct.

Answer: Informational social influence. Conforming because we trust the group's knowledge or judgment.

Flashcard 22: What is scapegoating?

Answer: Blaming an out-group for problems to reduce in-group frustration. Redirecting anger onto a vulnerable out-group.

Flashcard 23: What is social comparison in social identity theory?

Answer: Evaluating one's group relative to other groups. Boosts self-esteem through group status.

Flashcard 24: What is a reference group?

Answer: A group used as a standard for self-evaluation and norms. Reference groups provide benchmarks for attitudes, values, and behaviors, influencing individual aspirations and self-perception.

Flashcard 25: What is a stereotype?

Answer: A generalized belief about a group and its members. Mental shortcuts that overgeneralize group traits.

Flashcard 26: Which option best describes a contrast effect in intergroup comparison?

Answer: Differences between in-group and out-group are exaggerated. Perceiving greater differences than actually exist.

Flashcard 27: Which concept best fits: "Randomly assigned groups still allocate more rewards to their own"?

Answer: Minimal group paradigm (in-group favoritism without history). Demonstrates bias emerges instantly with arbitrary groupings.

Flashcard 28: What is social comparison in the context of social identity?

Answer: Evaluating one's group relative to other groups to assess status/value. Groups compare themselves to establish relative worth.

Flashcard 29: Which concept best explains why people favor their in-group to boost self-esteem?

Answer: Social Identity Theory. Links in-group favoritism to self-esteem maintenance.

Flashcard 30: What is an in-group in the context of social identity?

Answer: A group with which an individual identifies and feels membership. Members share identity and sense of belonging.

Flashcard 31: What is the minimal group paradigm designed to demonstrate?

Answer: In-group bias can occur from arbitrary, minimal group assignment. Even random grouping creates bias toward one's group.

Flashcard 32: Identify the concept: People compare in-group to out-group to enhance self-esteem.

Answer: Social comparison. Boosts self-esteem through favorable comparisons.

Flashcard 33: What is role conflict?

Answer: Stress from incompatible expectations across different roles. Role conflict arises from clashing demands of multiple roles, leading to stress and requiring prioritization or adjustment.

Flashcard 34: What is out-group derogation?

Answer: Negative attitudes or behavior directed toward an out-group. Stemming from intergroup comparisons, this involves devaluing out-groups to maintain positive distinctiveness for one's in-group.

Flashcard 35: What is self-categorization theory primarily used to explain?

Answer: How group membership becomes salient and guides depersonalized behavior. Shifts from personal to social identity levels.

Flashcard 36: Identify the concept: "People define themselves as unique individuals, not group members."

Answer: Personal identity (as opposed to social identity). Focus on individual traits rather than group membership.

Flashcard 37: What is an out-group?

Answer: A group to which an individual does not belong or identify. Creates social boundaries between "us" and "them."

Flashcard 38: What is a group prototype in self-categorization theory?

Answer: A context-specific set of attributes defining the "typical" member. Mental model of what a typical group member is like.

Flashcard 39: What is self-categorization theory primarily focused on?

Answer: How context shifts identity from personal to group-based. Situations activate either personal or social identities.

Flashcard 40: Identify the concept: A team member contributes less effort because others are also working.

Answer: Social loafing. Decreased effort when individual contribution is hidden.

Flashcard 41: What is a social category in the context of social identity?

Answer: A classification of people into groups based on shared traits. Groups form around common characteristics like race, profession, or interests.

Flashcard 42: Identify the concept: A person acts like "just one of the crowd" when anonymous in a mob.

Answer: Deindividuation. Loss of individual identity in anonymous crowds.

Flashcard 43: Identify the concept: People align with group views because they seem correct.

Answer: Informational social influence. Conformity based on believing others have accurate information.

Flashcard 44: What is positive distinctiveness in Social Identity Theory?

Answer: Motivation to view one's in-group as positively different from out-groups. Drives intergroup bias to enhance self-esteem.

Flashcard 45: What is prejudice (as distinct from stereotype and discrimination)?

Answer: Affective attitude toward a group, often negative and preconceived. Emotional component: how we feel about groups.

Flashcard 46: Which concept best fits: "A committee ignores warnings to maintain harmony"?

Answer: Groupthink. Pressure for unanimity prevents critical evaluation of decisions.

Flashcard 47: What does the contact hypothesis propose reduces prejudice?

Answer: Intergroup contact under equal status and cooperative conditions. Positive interactions break down group barriers.

Flashcard 48: What is discrimination (as distinct from stereotype and prejudice)?

Answer: Behavior that disadvantages people based on group membership. Behavioral component: how we act toward group members.

Flashcard 49: What is the minimal group paradigm used to demonstrate?

Answer: Mere categorization can produce in-group favoritism. Even arbitrary groupings trigger bias.

Flashcard 50: What is the minimal group paradigm?

Answer: Ingroup bias produced by arbitrary, trivial group assignments. Even random groupings (coin flip) create immediate ingroup preference.

Flashcard 51: What is the minimal group paradigm used to demonstrate?

Answer: In-group favoritism can occur with arbitrary group assignments. Even random groupings create bias toward own group.

Flashcard 52: Which concept is shown: "In a crowd, I felt anonymous and broke rules I usually follow."?

Answer: Deindividuation. Loss of individual identity in groups enables uncharacteristic behavior.

Flashcard 53: Identify the concept: group membership increases self-esteem after a threat to identity.

Answer: Basking in reflected glory (BIRGing) to restore self-esteem. Associating with successful groups enhances self-image.

Flashcard 54: Which concept best fits: "I see myself mainly as a team member when at a game"?

Answer: Self-categorization (salience of group identity in context). Context makes group membership more prominent than personal identity.

Flashcard 55: What is self-serving bias?

Answer: Attributing successes internally and failures externally. Protects self-esteem through biased attributions.

Flashcard 56: What is self-categorization theory primarily used to explain?

Answer: How group membership becomes salient and guides behavior. Explains when group identity becomes active.

Flashcard 57: What is social comparison in Social Identity Theory?

Answer: Comparing in-group to out-groups to maintain positive self-esteem. Third stage seeking positive group distinctiveness.

Flashcard 58: Which intervention reduces prejudice by making groups share goals requiring cooperation?

Answer: Superordinate goals. Shared objectives requiring interdependence reduce bias.

Flashcard 59: What is positive distinctiveness in social identity theory?

Answer: Motivation to view one's in-group as better than relevant out-groups. Drive to see our group as superior maintains positive social identity.

Flashcard 60: What is an in-group in the context of group membership?

Answer: A group with which an individual identifies and feels belonging. Creates sense of "us" through shared identity.

Flashcard 61: What is an out-group in the context of social identity and group membership?

Answer: A group to which an individual does not belong or identify. Groups we're not part of, often viewed as different from us.

Flashcard 62: What is out-group derogation?

Answer: Negative attitudes or behavior directed toward an out-group. Hostility toward 'them' to enhance 'us' distinction.

Flashcard 63: Identify the bias: "They are all the same" said about a rival group.

Answer: Out-group homogeneity bias. Seeing out-group members as more alike than they really are.

Flashcard 64: What is outgroup derogation?

Answer: Negative attitudes or behavior directed at an outgroup. Hostility or prejudice directed at those outside one's group.

Flashcard 65: What is the minimal group paradigm used to demonstrate?

Answer: In-group favoritism can occur with arbitrary group assignment. Shows bias emerges even without real group differences.

Flashcard 66: What is a social stigma?

Answer: A socially discrediting attribute that devalues a person. Social stigmas, as per Goffman, lead to discrimination by marking individuals as deviant or inferior in societal views.

Flashcard 67: Identify the concept: "After being assigned to Team A randomly, I start favoring Team A."

Answer: Minimal group paradigm (in-group favoritism from arbitrary grouping). Shows bias emerges from mere categorization alone.

Flashcard 68: What is the difference between an in-group and an out-group?

Answer: In-group: "us"; out-group: "them" relative to the perceiver. Based on whether you belong to the group or not.

Flashcard 69: What is positive distinctiveness in social identity theory?

Answer: Motivation to view the in-group as better than out-groups. Enhances self-worth via group superiority.

Flashcard 70: What is group polarization?

Answer: Group discussion strengthens the group's initial average attitude. Groups amplify pre-existing tendencies through mutual reinforcement.

Flashcard 71: What is the minimal group paradigm used to demonstrate?

Answer: In-group bias can occur from arbitrary group assignment. Shows bias emerges even with random, meaningless group divisions.

Flashcard 72: What is a role in a social group?

Answer: A set of expected behaviors associated with a social position. Roles define normative behaviors tied to positions in social groups, facilitating predictable interactions and group functioning.

Flashcard 73: Which term describes believing one's in-group is superior to others?

Answer: Ethnocentrism. Ethnocentrism reflects in-group bias where one's group is seen as the norm and superior, promoting cultural prejudice.

Flashcard 74: What is ingroup favoritism?

Answer: Preferential attitudes or behavior toward one's ingroup. Bias that favors one's own group over others.

Flashcard 75: What is outgroup derogation?

Answer: Negative attitudes or behavior directed toward an outgroup. Derogation means disparagement; often occurs to enhance ingroup status.

Flashcard 76: Identify the concept: "I am not prejudiced; I treat everyone the same," despite unequal outcomes.

Answer: Aversive (implicit) prejudice. Unconscious bias despite egalitarian beliefs.

Flashcard 77: What is social comparison in social identity theory?

Answer: Evaluating one's group relative to other groups. We assess our group's status by comparing to others.

Flashcard 78: Identify the concept: People adopt group norms to gain approval and avoid rejection.

Answer: Normative social influence. Conformity driven by desire for social acceptance.

Flashcard 79: What is positive distinctiveness in social identity theory?

Answer: Motivation to view one's in-group as positively different. Desire for our group to be unique and superior.

Flashcard 80: What is an in-group?

Answer: A group with which an individual identifies as a member. The 'we' group that forms part of one's social identity.

Flashcard 81: Identify the concept: "A person changes behavior to match group norms to be accepted."

Answer: Normative social influence. Conformity driven by desire for group acceptance.

Flashcard 82: What is a reference group?

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

Flashcard 83: Identify the concept: People conform because they believe others have accurate information.

Answer: Informational social influence. Assuming others know better in ambiguous situations.

Flashcard 84: What is social identity in social psychology?

Answer: Self-concept derived from membership in social groups. Social identity theory posits that individuals derive part of their self-concept from perceived memberships in social groups, influencing behavior and attitudes.

Flashcard 85: Which intervention most directly reduces prejudice by increasing cross-group cooperation?

Answer: Superordinate goals (Realistic Conflict Theory). Shared goals requiring cooperation reduce intergroup conflict.

Flashcard 86: Which option best describes the contact hypothesis for reducing prejudice?

Answer: Intergroup contact reduces prejudice under optimal conditions. Direct interaction can improve intergroup relations.

Flashcard 87: What is scapegoating as an explanation for prejudice?

Answer: Blaming an out-group for frustration or negative outcomes. Displaced aggression targets vulnerable out-groups.

Flashcard 88: What is a stereotype in the context of group membership?

Answer: A generalized belief about traits or behaviors of a group. Cognitive shortcuts about groups; can be positive, negative, or neutral.

Flashcard 89: What is ingroup favoritism?

Answer: Preferential attitudes or behavior toward one's ingroup. People naturally favor their own groups to maintain positive self-image.

Flashcard 90: What is a stereotype in social psychology?

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

Flashcard 91: What is a social category as used in social identity theory?

Answer: A classification of people based on shared characteristics. Grouping by traits like race, gender, or occupation.

Flashcard 92: What is an ingroup in the context of social identity?

Answer: A group with which an individual identifies as a member. The 'in' prefix indicates membership or belonging within the group.

Flashcard 93: What is out-group homogeneity bias?

Answer: Perceiving out-group members as more similar than they are. "They all look alike" effect for outsiders.

Flashcard 94: Which option best defines stereotype threat?

Answer: Performance impairment from fear of confirming a negative group stereotype. Anxiety about fulfilling stereotypes can create self-fulfilling prophecy.

Flashcard 95: What is social categorization in Social Identity Theory?

Answer: Classifying people (including self) into groups to simplify social world. First step in Social Identity Theory's three-stage process.

Flashcard 96: Identify the phenomenon: Arbitrary team assignment leads to unequal reward allocation.

Answer: Minimal group paradigm (in-group favoritism without real conflict). Demonstrates bias from mere categorization alone.

Flashcard 97: Which concept best explains: "They are all the same," said about a rival group?

Answer: Out-group homogeneity effect. This effect stems from perceiving greater variability within one's in-group compared to the uniformity attributed to out-groups.

Flashcard 98: Which concept best explains reduced helping when other bystanders are present?

Answer: Diffusion of responsibility. Individual responsibility diluted in groups.

Flashcard 99: What is a primary group?

Answer: Small, close, enduring relationships (for example, family, close friends). Intimate groups provide emotional support and identity.

Flashcard 100: What is the authoritarian personality associated with?

Answer: Prejudice, conformity, and submission to authority. Personality type prone to rigid thinking and obedience.