MCAT Psych/Sociology Questions and
Answers | Latest Version | 2024/2025 |
100% Pass
What is the primary focus of cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT)?
✔✔Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) focuses on identifying and changing negative thought
patterns and behaviors to improve emotional regulation and problem-solving.
Explain the concept of social stratification in sociology.
✔✔Social stratification refers to the hierarchical arrangement of individuals or groups in a
society based on factors such as wealth, income, education, and power.
What does the term "self-fulfilling prophecy" mean in social psychology?
✔✔A self-fulfilling prophecy occurs when a person's expectations about another individual or
situation lead to behaviors that cause those expectations to come true.
Describe the main idea behind Erik Erikson's psychosocial development theory.
1
,✔✔Erik Erikson's psychosocial development theory posits that individuals go through eight
stages of development, each characterized by a specific conflict that contributes to psychological
growth and personality development.
How does the concept of "role strain" differ from "role conflict"?
✔✔Role strain refers to difficulties experienced within a single role due to competing demands
or expectations, while role conflict arises from conflicting demands between multiple roles held
by an individual.
What is the significance of the "bystander effect" in understanding prosocial behavior?
✔✔The bystander effect describes the phenomenon where individuals are less likely to help a
victim when other people are present, often due to a diffusion of responsibility.
Explain the concept of "confirmation bias" in decision-making.
2
,✔✔Confirmation bias is the tendency to search for, interpret, and remember information that
confirms one's preexisting beliefs or hypotheses, leading to skewed decision-making.
What role does the "prefrontal cortex" play in executive functioning?
✔✔The prefrontal cortex is involved in higher-order cognitive processes such as planning,
decision-making, impulse control, and reasoning.
Describe the concept of "socialization" and its importance in human development.
✔✔Socialization is the process through which individuals learn and internalize the values,
beliefs, norms, and behaviors of their culture or society, which is crucial for their integration and
functioning within social groups.
How does "cognitive dissonance" affect attitude change?
✔✔Cognitive dissonance occurs when individuals experience discomfort from holding
conflicting beliefs or attitudes, leading them to change their attitudes or beliefs to reduce the
inconsistency.
3
, What is the main premise of "Maslow's hierarchy of needs"?
✔✔Maslow's hierarchy of needs posits that human motivation is driven by a series of
hierarchical needs, starting from basic physiological needs and progressing through safety, love
and belonging, esteem, and self-actualization.
Explain the concept of "groupthink" and its potential impact on decision-making.
✔✔Groupthink is a psychological phenomenon where the desire for harmony and conformity in
a group leads to poor decision-making and a lack of critical evaluation of alternative viewpoints.
What is the difference between "intrinsic" and "extrinsic" motivation?
✔✔Intrinsic motivation refers to engaging in behavior for its own sake and personal satisfaction,
while extrinsic motivation involves performing an activity to earn rewards or avoid punishment.
Describe the role of "mirror neurons" in understanding social interactions.
4
Answers | Latest Version | 2024/2025 |
100% Pass
What is the primary focus of cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT)?
✔✔Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) focuses on identifying and changing negative thought
patterns and behaviors to improve emotional regulation and problem-solving.
Explain the concept of social stratification in sociology.
✔✔Social stratification refers to the hierarchical arrangement of individuals or groups in a
society based on factors such as wealth, income, education, and power.
What does the term "self-fulfilling prophecy" mean in social psychology?
✔✔A self-fulfilling prophecy occurs when a person's expectations about another individual or
situation lead to behaviors that cause those expectations to come true.
Describe the main idea behind Erik Erikson's psychosocial development theory.
1
,✔✔Erik Erikson's psychosocial development theory posits that individuals go through eight
stages of development, each characterized by a specific conflict that contributes to psychological
growth and personality development.
How does the concept of "role strain" differ from "role conflict"?
✔✔Role strain refers to difficulties experienced within a single role due to competing demands
or expectations, while role conflict arises from conflicting demands between multiple roles held
by an individual.
What is the significance of the "bystander effect" in understanding prosocial behavior?
✔✔The bystander effect describes the phenomenon where individuals are less likely to help a
victim when other people are present, often due to a diffusion of responsibility.
Explain the concept of "confirmation bias" in decision-making.
2
,✔✔Confirmation bias is the tendency to search for, interpret, and remember information that
confirms one's preexisting beliefs or hypotheses, leading to skewed decision-making.
What role does the "prefrontal cortex" play in executive functioning?
✔✔The prefrontal cortex is involved in higher-order cognitive processes such as planning,
decision-making, impulse control, and reasoning.
Describe the concept of "socialization" and its importance in human development.
✔✔Socialization is the process through which individuals learn and internalize the values,
beliefs, norms, and behaviors of their culture or society, which is crucial for their integration and
functioning within social groups.
How does "cognitive dissonance" affect attitude change?
✔✔Cognitive dissonance occurs when individuals experience discomfort from holding
conflicting beliefs or attitudes, leading them to change their attitudes or beliefs to reduce the
inconsistency.
3
, What is the main premise of "Maslow's hierarchy of needs"?
✔✔Maslow's hierarchy of needs posits that human motivation is driven by a series of
hierarchical needs, starting from basic physiological needs and progressing through safety, love
and belonging, esteem, and self-actualization.
Explain the concept of "groupthink" and its potential impact on decision-making.
✔✔Groupthink is a psychological phenomenon where the desire for harmony and conformity in
a group leads to poor decision-making and a lack of critical evaluation of alternative viewpoints.
What is the difference between "intrinsic" and "extrinsic" motivation?
✔✔Intrinsic motivation refers to engaging in behavior for its own sake and personal satisfaction,
while extrinsic motivation involves performing an activity to earn rewards or avoid punishment.
Describe the role of "mirror neurons" in understanding social interactions.
4
