MCAT Psych/Sociology from 132 Scorer Concepts with Complete Solutions.

Biopsychosocial approach to health and illness Correct Answer Illness is determined by a variety of influences, rather than a single cause. The causes and effects of illness can be examined at multiple levels in the life of an individual, and no single level provides the whole picture. Collecting info about psychosocial context is key to the understanding of physical health and illness. Biomedical approach to health and illness Correct Answer Disease is studied by examining only the biological factors of illness, neglecting contributing factors of psychological life and sociological context. Models Correct Answer Provide an approximation (physical/conceptual representation) of a scientific phenomenon that cannot be observed directly Theories Correct Answer Provides the conceptual framework for understanding objects of study Social constructionism Correct Answer Human actors actively construct their "reality", rather than discovering a reality that has inherent validity, through their social interactions. The beliefs and shared understandings of individuals create social realities. In the context of illness, there is a gap b/t the biological reality of a medical condition and the societally created meaning of the condition. (ex. changing conceptualizations of mental illness results in changes to the DSM). It is a dynamic, ongoing process. Brute facts vs Institutional Facts Correct Answer -Part of WEAK social constructionism -Brute facts are physical realities that exist outside of human input -Institutional facts only exist as a function of society's structures and beliefs Symbolic interactionism Correct Answer Micro social perspective. Focuses on the smaller scale interactions between individuals in small groups. Through social interactions, individuals develop shared meanings and labels for various symbols. Allows for human agency in creating and changing meaning in society, rather than society acting upon the individual. Meaning can change with a single interaction, so addresses subjective meanings. Humans ascribe meaning to things, act based on those meanings, use language to generate meaning through social interaction, and modify meanings through thought processes. However, ignores larger societal forces that shape people's lives. Symbols Correct Answer Terms, concepts, or items that represent specific meanings by accepted convention. Meanings ascribed to symbols are determined by social norms and cultural values.