MCAT Psychological Social Foundations Flashcards: 8c Discrimination Individual Institutional

What this deck covers

This deck focuses on 8c Discrimination Individual Institutional, 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: What is explicit bias in the context of individual discrimination?

Answer: Conscious, openly endorsed prejudiced attitudes. Involves deliberate acknowledgment of biases, directly influencing discriminatory actions.

Flashcard 2: What is the term for discrimination based on sexual orientation?

Answer: Heterosexism. Assumes heterosexuality as default/superior.

Flashcard 3: What is the term for intentional discrimination against a protected group?

Answer: Disparate treatment. Legal term for intentional discriminatory actions.

Flashcard 4: What is aversive racism?

Answer: Implicit negative bias with endorsement of egalitarian explicit beliefs. Conflict between conscious egalitarian values and unconscious negative associations.

Flashcard 5: What is the definition of microaggression?

Answer: Subtle, often unintentional slights that convey demeaning messages to a group. Small acts accumulate to create hostile environments.

Flashcard 6: Which option best distinguishes prejudice from discrimination?

Answer: Prejudice is attitude; discrimination is behavior. Prejudice is internal belief; discrimination is external action.

Flashcard 7: What is sexism?

Answer: Discrimination or prejudice based on sex or gender, often reinforced by institutions. Creates systematic disadvantage based on gender identity.

Flashcard 8: What is the term for a self-fulfilling underperformance triggered by fear of confirming a stereotype?

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

Flashcard 9: Which option best labels this: School funding tied to property taxes yields chronic underfunding.

Answer: Institutional discrimination. System-level policy creates educational inequality.

Flashcard 10: Identify the term for policies that appear neutral but disproportionately harm a protected group.

Answer: Disparate impact. Legal concept showing discrimination through outcomes, not intent.

Flashcard 11: What is classism?

Answer: Discrimination or prejudice based on social class. Reinforces socioeconomic hierarchies through biases against lower classes.

Flashcard 12: Which option best distinguishes prejudice from discrimination?

Answer: Prejudice is attitude; discrimination is behavior. Prejudice is internal; discrimination is external action.

Flashcard 13: What is de jure discrimination?

Answer: Discrimination that is legally sanctioned (by law or formal policy). Latin for "by law" - discrimination written into legal code.

Flashcard 14: Identify the concept: a lender denies loans to a neighborhood largely due to racial composition.

Answer: Institutional discrimination (redlining). Historic practice denying services by race/location.

Flashcard 15: Which option best describes "disparate treatment" in discrimination law concepts used in sociology?

Answer: Intentional differential treatment of individuals by group status. Legal term for deliberate unequal treatment.

Flashcard 16: What is the definition of a self-fulfilling prophecy in discrimination contexts?

Answer: Expectations lead to behaviors that cause the expected outcome to occur. Biased expectations create their own reality through behavior.

Flashcard 17: What is the term for unequal outcomes from a neutral policy with no intent to harm?

Answer: Disparate impact. Legal term for unintentional discriminatory effects.

Flashcard 18: What is the definition of authoritarian personality as a source of prejudice?

Answer: Rigid, obedience-focused traits linked to hostility toward outgroups. Personality type correlates with prejudice and discrimination.

Flashcard 19: What is implicit bias?

Answer: Unconscious attitudes or associations that influence judgments and actions. Automatic biases operating below conscious awareness.

Flashcard 20: What is the definition of affirmative action as used in MCAT contexts?

Answer: Policies intended to increase representation of historically excluded groups. Aims to counteract past discrimination through targeted inclusion.

Flashcard 21: Which option best describes de facto discrimination: law-based or practice-based discrimination?

Answer: Practice-based discrimination (de facto), regardless of formal laws. Latin for "in fact"; occurs through customs despite equal laws.

Flashcard 22: Which option is an example of individual discrimination: a landlord refuses to rent to one group.

Answer: Individual discrimination. Personal bias enacted by one person against another.

Flashcard 23: What is the definition of racism in MCAT sociology terms?

Answer: Prejudice plus power that produces systemic advantage for a racial group. Requires both bias and structural power to create inequality.

Flashcard 24: Identify the concept: a landlord refuses to rent to an applicant because of race.

Answer: Individual discrimination. Direct person-to-person discriminatory action.

Flashcard 25: What is the term for discrimination against people with disabilities in social and institutional settings?

Answer: Ableism. Bias against those with physical/mental impairments.

Flashcard 26: Identify whether this is individual or institutional discrimination: A bank uses a rule that excludes many minority applicants.

Answer: Institutional discrimination. Banking rule creates systematic barriers for minority groups.

Flashcard 27: Identify the concept: "Police stop-and-frisk policy disproportionately targets one racial group."

Answer: Institutional discrimination. Policy enforcement creates systematic racial disparities.

Flashcard 28: Which term refers to unequal treatment based on race or ethnicity?

Answer: Racial discrimination. Encompasses prejudice against any racial or ethnic group.

Flashcard 29: Identify the concept: A qualified applicant is rejected because of the interviewer's bias.

Answer: Individual discrimination. Personal bias directly affects hiring decision.

Flashcard 30: What is institutional (systemic) discrimination?

Answer: Discrimination embedded in policies, practices, or institutions. Organizational structures that systematically disadvantage groups.

Flashcard 31: What is de facto discrimination?

Answer: Discrimination that occurs in practice without being legally mandated. "In fact" - discrimination that exists without legal backing.

Flashcard 32: What is the definition of multiculturalism as a societal approach relevant to discrimination?

Answer: Coexistence of multiple cultures with equal respect and participation. Promotes diversity as societal strength, not threat.

Flashcard 33: What is discrimination in the sociological sense as tested on the MCAT?

Answer: Unjustified negative behavior toward a group or its members. Focuses on observable actions that disadvantage groups, distinct from internal attitudes like prejudice.

Flashcard 34: Which option best describes de jure discrimination: law-based or practice-based discrimination?

Answer: Law-based discrimination (de jure). Latin for "by law"; discrimination written into legal codes.

Flashcard 35: Identify the concept: A "neutral" standardized test requirement disproportionately excludes one group from jobs.

Answer: Institutional discrimination via disparate impact. Seemingly fair policy has discriminatory effects on protected groups.

Flashcard 36: What is a stereotype (as distinguished from prejudice and discrimination)?

Answer: A generalized belief about a group and its members. Belief distinguishes stereotype from prejudice (attitude) and discrimination (behavior).

Flashcard 37: Identify the concept: "A manager refuses to hire a qualified applicant due to race."

Answer: Individual discrimination. Personal bias directly affects hiring decision.

Flashcard 38: What is de jure discrimination?

Answer: Discrimination that is legally sanctioned or written into law. "De jure" means "by law" in Latin.

Flashcard 39: Identify the concept: a manager refuses to hire someone solely because of race or religion.

Answer: Disparate treatment. Intentional refusal based on protected characteristic shows explicit discrimination.

Flashcard 40: What is the difference between stereotypes and discrimination?

Answer: Stereotypes are beliefs; discrimination is differential treatment. Stereotypes are cognitive; discrimination is behavioral.

Flashcard 41: What is implicit (covert) discrimination?

Answer: Differential treatment driven by unconscious biases or automatic associations. Occurs without conscious awareness through implicit biases.

Flashcard 42: What is disparate treatment in discrimination contexts?

Answer: Intentional differential treatment of individuals based on group status. Purposeful bias in how people are treated differently.

Flashcard 43: What is de facto discrimination?

Answer: Discrimination in practice despite legal equality. "In fact" - occurs through social practices, not law.

Flashcard 44: Identify the type of discrimination: A landlord harasses tenants because of their religion.

Answer: Individual discrimination. Personal actions targeting specific individuals.

Flashcard 45: What is implicit discrimination?

Answer: Unconscious bias leading to unequal treatment despite stated egalitarian beliefs. Occurs without conscious awareness of biased actions.

Flashcard 46: What is the term for unfair treatment based on age, often in employment contexts?

Answer: Ageism. Bias against older or younger individuals.

Flashcard 47: Which option best classifies this: A teacher consistently calls on boys more than girls in class.

Answer: Individual discrimination. Personal bias in practice, not embedded in policy.

Flashcard 48: Identify the concept: standardized test questions assume affluent cultural knowledge.

Answer: Institutional discrimination (structural bias in testing). Test design favors certain cultural backgrounds.

Flashcard 49: What is the term for self-fulfilling lowering of performance due to a negative group stereotype?

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

Flashcard 50: What is racism as defined in MCAT sociology?

Answer: Belief that one racial group is inherently superior to another. Ideology justifying racial hierarchy and oppression.

Flashcard 51: What is disparate treatment in employment discrimination terminology?

Answer: Intentional differential treatment based on protected status. Conscious decision to treat protected groups differently.

Flashcard 52: Identify the concept: A hiring test unrelated to job tasks excludes one group at higher rates.

Answer: Institutional discrimination. Organizational practice creates systematic barriers.

Flashcard 53: Identify the term for a hiring policy that systematically excludes a protected group despite equal qualifications.

Answer: Institutional discrimination. Organizational policies creating group disadvantage.

Flashcard 54: What is individual discrimination in the context of MCAT sociology and psychology?

Answer: Differential treatment by an individual based on group membership. Occurs when one person treats another unfairly due to their group identity.

Flashcard 55: What is de jure discrimination?

Answer: Discrimination that is legally sanctioned or mandated. "By law" - discrimination written into legal codes.

Flashcard 56: Identify the concept: "Redlining limits mortgages in a neighborhood by race."

Answer: Institutional discrimination. Banking policy creates systemic racial housing inequality.

Flashcard 57: Identify the concept: a "race-neutral" hiring test excludes a protected group at higher rates without job relevance.

Answer: Disparate impact (institutional discrimination). Neutral policy creates discriminatory outcomes.

Flashcard 58: What is disparate impact in discrimination contexts?

Answer: Unequal outcomes from a policy without requiring intent. Discriminatory effects regardless of discriminatory intent.

Flashcard 59: Which term fits: a clinician unknowingly spends less time with patients from one group?

Answer: Implicit bias. Unconscious behavior pattern indicates bias operating below awareness.

Flashcard 60: What is racism in sociological terms (as distinct from prejudice alone)?

Answer: Prejudice plus power that produces systemic advantage/disadvantage. Requires institutional power to create systemic inequality.

Flashcard 61: What is prejudice (as distinguished from discrimination)?

Answer: Unjustified negative attitude toward a group and its members. Attitude distinguishes prejudice from discrimination (behavior) and stereotype (belief).

Flashcard 62: What is the definition of social dominance orientation (SDO)?

Answer: Preference for group-based hierarchy and inequality. Psychological tendency supporting social hierarchies.

Flashcard 63: Which term names unequal treatment of similarly qualified people due to group membership?

Answer: Disparate treatment. Intentional differential treatment based on protected class.

Flashcard 64: What is stereotyping (as distinct from discrimination) in the context of intergroup relations?

Answer: Cognitive beliefs or generalizations about a group. Mental schemas about groups, not necessarily negative or acted upon.

Flashcard 65: What is prejudice?

Answer: Negative attitude or feeling toward a group and its members. Preconceived opinion not based on reason or experience.

Flashcard 66: What is the definition of segregation as a form of discrimination?

Answer: Physical or social separation of groups, often unequal in resources. Forced or de facto division creating unequal access.

Flashcard 67: What is prejudice (as distinct from discrimination)?

Answer: Negative attitudes or feelings toward a group. Internal attitudes, not external actions like discrimination.

Flashcard 68: What term describes unequal outcomes produced by seemingly neutral rules (without explicit intent)?

Answer: Disparate impact. Neutral policies that disproportionately affect protected groups without intent.

Flashcard 69: What is de facto discrimination?

Answer: Discrimination in practice despite formal legal equality. "De facto" means "in fact" - exists without legal basis.

Flashcard 70: What is sexism as defined in MCAT sociology?

Answer: Beliefs or practices that produce gender inequality. Systems of advantage/disadvantage based on gender.

Flashcard 71: Identify the type of discrimination: A standardized test systematically disadvantages low-income students.

Answer: Institutional discrimination. Creates barriers through seemingly neutral assessments that correlate with socioeconomic factors.

Flashcard 72: Identify the concept: a literacy test used to exclude a racial group from voting.

Answer: Institutional discrimination (disparate impact). Policy appears neutral but systematically excludes groups.

Flashcard 73: Identify the concept: Historical housing policy restricts mortgages to certain neighborhoods, shaping today's wealth gaps.

Answer: Institutional discrimination (structural inequality via housing policy). Past policies create lasting structural inequalities.

Flashcard 74: Identify the type: A company policy bans natural hairstyles linked to a racial group.

Answer: Institutional discrimination. Policy creates discrimination through organizational rules.

Flashcard 75: What is the definition of institutional discrimination?

Answer: Differential outcomes caused by policies or practices of institutions, regardless of intent. Emphasizes systemic patterns, not individual prejudices.

Flashcard 76: Identify the best classification: a school district funds schools via property taxes, widening racial gaps.

Answer: Institutional discrimination. Funding mechanism perpetuating educational inequities.

Flashcard 77: What is the definition of a protected class in anti-discrimination law contexts?

Answer: A group legally shielded from discrimination in specific domains. Legal categories (race, sex, etc.) protected from discrimination.

Flashcard 78: What is the definition of xenophobia as a discrimination-related concept?

Answer: Fear or hostility toward foreigners that can motivate discrimination. Often intersects with racism and nationalism.

Flashcard 79: What is the definition of in-group favoritism as a form of discrimination?

Answer: Preferential treatment of one's own group over out-groups. Giving advantages to members sharing your group identity.

Flashcard 80: What is the term for unequal access to goods, services, and opportunities across groups in society?

Answer: Social inequality. Systematic differences in resources and power.

Flashcard 81: Which term describes discrimination against people with disabilities?

Answer: Ableism. Includes physical, mental, and sensory impairments.

Flashcard 82: What is sexism in MCAT sociological terms?

Answer: Discrimination based on sex or gender, often reinforced by institutions. Unequal treatment based on gender, embedded in social structures.

Flashcard 83: Identify the term for subtle, often unintentional discriminatory acts in daily interactions.

Answer: Microaggressions. Small, everyday slights that communicate hostile or negative messages.

Flashcard 84: Identify the concept: a policy is neutral on its face but produces unequal outcomes by group.

Answer: Institutional discrimination (often via disparate impact). Facially neutral rules creating discriminatory effects.

Flashcard 85: What is individual discrimination in the context of social psychology and the MCAT?

Answer: Unequal treatment by a person toward others based on group membership. Focuses on actions by individuals rather than systems or policies.

Flashcard 86: Identify whether this is individual or institutional discrimination: A company policy bans natural Black hairstyles.

Answer: Institutional discrimination. Policy affects all employees, creating systemic bias.

Flashcard 87: What is the definition of out-group homogeneity bias?

Answer: Perceiving out-group members as more similar than they are. Reduces individual differences among those outside your group.

Flashcard 88: What is stereotyping?

Answer: Generalized beliefs about members of a group. Oversimplified assumptions applied to all group members.

Flashcard 89: What is de jure discrimination?

Answer: Discrimination that is legally sanctioned by laws or formal rules. Latin for "by law" - discrimination written into legal code.

Flashcard 90: Identify the concept: a standardized test requirement disproportionately excludes one group without job relevance.

Answer: Institutional discrimination. Neutral rule creates unequal outcomes by group.

Flashcard 91: Identify the type of discrimination: A company policy bans natural Black hairstyles at work.

Answer: Institutional discrimination. Embeds bias in organizational rules, disproportionately impacting specific groups systemically.

Flashcard 92: What is the defining feature of institutional discrimination compared with individual prejudice?

Answer: It operates through systemic rules and practices, not only attitudes. Embedded in structures beyond individual control.

Flashcard 93: Which option best distinguishes prejudice from discrimination?

Answer: Prejudice is attitude; discrimination is behavior. Prejudice is internal belief; discrimination is external action.

Flashcard 94: What is the term for policies that appear neutral but disproportionately harm a protected group?

Answer: Disparate impact. Unintentional discrimination through differential outcomes.

Flashcard 95: Which option best describes "disparate impact" (adverse impact)?

Answer: Neutral policy with disproportionately harmful group outcomes. Facially neutral policies with discriminatory effects.

Flashcard 96: What is out-group homogeneity bias, and why can it promote discrimination?

Answer: Perceiving out-group members as more similar than they are. Fosters discrimination by reducing empathy and justifying unequal treatment toward out-groups.

Flashcard 97: Identify the type of discrimination: Police stop drivers of one race more often due to a department quota policy.

Answer: Institutional discrimination. Department policy creates systematic racial bias.

Flashcard 98: What is de facto discrimination?

Answer: Discrimination occurring in practice despite legal equality. Latin for "in fact" - happens in reality without legal basis.

Flashcard 99: Identify the concept: a company promotes fewer women due to a "culture fit" rule that favors men.

Answer: Institutional discrimination. Organizational culture systematically disadvantages women.

Flashcard 100: Which option best classifies this: A manager refuses to hire women for a leadership role.

Answer: Individual discrimination. One person's biased decision, not organizational policy.