Social psychology examines how individuals’ thoughts, emotions, and behaviors are influenced by social interactions, group dynamics, and societal norms. It explores concepts such as conformity, obedience, prejudice, attitudes, and interpersonal relationships. Key theories include cognitive dissonance, attribution theory, and social identity theory, which analyze how people adjust their behavior in social contexts. Understanding group behavior, including the bystander effect and groupthink, is crucial in applying these principles to real-world scenarios.

Free MCAT Practice Test

Learning Objectives

In studying “Social Psychology” for the MCAT, you should understand how social interactions influence individual thoughts, emotions, and behaviors. Analyze key concepts such as conformity, obedience, group dynamics, and social perception. Evaluate theories like attribution theory, cognitive dissonance, and social identity theory, focusing on how individuals behave in group settings and respond to authority. Explore topics such as stereotypes, prejudice, and interpersonal attraction, and how these affect social relationships. Additionally, apply your understanding to real-world scenarios and experimental designs to interpret behavioral patterns and predict outcomes, preparing you to analyze MCAT practice passages effectively.

Social psychology examines how individuals influence, are influenced by, and relate to others in social contexts. It explores behavior, cognition, emotions, and attitudes as affected by the presence and actions of others, including concepts like social identity, group dynamics, and social norms. This foundation integrates psychological principles with sociology to provide a nuanced understanding of interpersonal behavior essential for medical professionals interacting with diverse patients and communities.

Self-Concept: The sum of beliefs individuals have about themselves (e.g., “Who am I?”).
Self-Schema: Mental frameworks about oneself that influence how we process information.
Social Identity Theory: Individuals categorize themselves into social groups (in-group vs. out-group) influencing behavior.
Self-Esteem and Self-Efficacy: One’s personal value (esteem) and belief in capability (efficacy) to succeed.
The Looking-Glass Self (Cooley): Our self-image is shaped by how others perceive us.

Conformity: Adjusting behavior or thinking to align with group standards.
- Asch Conformity Experiments: Participants conformed to incorrect group answers to avoid social rejection.
Obedience: Following direct commands, usually from an authority figure.
- Milgram’s Obedience Study: Demonstrated people’s willingness to obey authority even when actions conflict with personal ethics.
Compliance: Adjusting behavior in response to a request (e.g., foot-in-the-door technique).

Attitudes and Behavior Change

Components of Attitude: Cognitive (beliefs), affective (emotions), and behavioral (actions).
Cognitive Dissonance Theory (Festinger): Tension arises when actions and attitudes are inconsistent, prompting attitude changes.
The Elaboration Likelihood Model: Describes two routes to persuasion:
- Central Route: Focuses on logical argument.
- Peripheral Route: Involves superficial cues (e.g., attractiveness of speaker).

Group Dynamics and Social Behavior

Group Polarization: Tendency of group discussion to strengthen dominant viewpoints.
Groupthink: Desire for harmony in decision-making leads to poor outcomes as dissent is suppressed.
Social Facilitation: Performance improves on simple tasks when others are watching.
Social Loafing: Individuals exert less effort in group settings.
Deindividuation: In large groups, individuals may lose self-awareness and act uncharacteristically.

Prejudice, Discrimination, and Stereotyping

Prejudice : An unjustified attitude toward a group, driven by stereotypes, emotional biases, and social conditioning.
Stereotypes : Generalized beliefs about a group, often oversimplified and applied to all its members.
Discrimination : The behavioral expression of prejudice, treating individuals unfairly based on group membership.

Apply Concepts to Scenarios: MCAT questions often require you to apply theories to real-life situations or psychological experiments.
Know Classic Experiments: Familiarize yourself with studies such as Milgram’s obedience experiment, Asch’s conformity study, and Bandura’s Bobo doll experiment.
Understand Multiple Perspectives: Questions may present conflicting viewpoints, requiring you to distinguish between theories (e.g., social learning vs. frustration-aggression hypothesis).
Focus on Group Behavior and Interpersonal Dynamics: Group think, conformity, and social facilitation often appear in group behavior-related questions.
Use Process of Elimination: MCAT questions can be tricky; eliminating incorrect answers systematically increases your odds of choosing the correct one.

Examples

Example 1. Cognitive Dissonance in Health Behaviors

Cognitive dissonance occurs when an individual’s behaviors and beliefs are inconsistent, leading to psychological discomfort. For instance, a medical student might know the harmful effects of smoking yet continue to smoke due to social pressure. To resolve this dissonance, the student may justify the behavior by minimizing the health risks (“One cigarette won’t hurt”) or adjust the behavior by quitting smoking. This example demonstrates how attitudes and behaviors may conflict and how individuals use rationalization to reduce dissonance, a key concept in behavior change and health promotion.

Social facilitation refers to the improvement of performance on simple tasks in the presence of others. A student might perform better during anatomy lab practicals with their peers observing, as the pressure enhances focus and motivation. However, on more complex tasks, such as intricate surgical procedures, the presence of others could increase anxiety and impair performance. This concept illustrates the dual nature of social facilitation, where performance outcomes depend on the complexity of the task and the presence of an audience.

Example 3. Groupthink in Medical Decision-Making

Groupthink occurs when the desire for consensus in a group overrides critical thinking and realistic assessments. In a hospital setting, a medical team might agree with a senior doctor’s incorrect diagnosis, even if some members privately have doubts. Fear of dissent and a strong desire to maintain group harmony can prevent team members from expressing alternate opinions. This concept underscores the importance of fostering open communication and critical thinking in healthcare teams to avoid faulty medical decisions.

Example 4. The Bystander Effect in Emergency Situations

The bystander effect occurs when individuals are less likely to help a person in need if others are present. For example, in a crowded public area, a person experiencing a heart attack might not receive immediate help because bystanders assume that someone else will intervene. This diffusion of responsibility can delay critical care, highlighting the importance of understanding social psychological principles in emergency response and first aid situations.

Example 5. Stereotype Threat in Medical Training

Stereotype threat refers to the risk of conforming to negative stereotypes about one’s group. A female medical student may experience anxiety during a surgical rotation, fearing that any mistake will confirm the stereotype that women are less competent in surgery. This heightened anxiety can impair performance, even though the student is highly capable. Recognizing stereotype threat in educational and clinical settings is crucial for promoting equity and creating supportive environments in healthcare professions.

Practice Questions

Question 1

Which of the following best describes the “Bystander Effect”?

A) People make decisions to help others based on the potential benefits and costs to themselves.
B) Individuals are more likely to intervene in emergencies when others are present.
C) People feel less responsible to act when more individuals are present in an emergency.
D) The presence of a group enhances individual decision-making abilities during a crisis.

Correct Answer: C) People feel less responsible to act when more individuals are present in an emergency.

Explanation: The bystander effect occurs when individuals feel less personal responsibility to intervene in an emergency when others are present, assuming someone else will help (diffusion of responsibility). This concept parallels microeconomic principles of public goods and free-rider problems. In economics, individuals might refrain from contributing to public goods, assuming others will bear the cost—similar to how people may not act during emergencies if they expect others to intervene. This phenomenon reflects the balance between personal cost and perceived benefit in decision-making.

Question 2

What theory suggests that people change their behavior to align with their attitudes to avoid psychological discomfort?

A) Cognitive Dissonance Theory
B) Game Theory
C) Attribution Theory
D) Social Learning Theory

Correct Answer: A) Cognitive Dissonance Theory

Explanation: Cognitive dissonance theory explains that individuals experience psychological discomfort when their actions conflict with their beliefs, leading them to adjust either their actions or beliefs to reduce this tension. In microeconomics, consumer choice theory mirrors this concept: consumers face trade-offs between competing goods, and cognitive dissonance can arise if they regret their purchase or perceive they made a suboptimal decision. Just as cognitive dissonance motivates behavioral change, consumer preferences shift to maintain satisfaction and avoid the discomfort associated with poor economic decisions.

Question 3

According to Social Exchange Theory, what motivates individuals to engage in prosocial behavior?

A) A desire to benefit the greater good, regardless of personal outcomes.
B) A cost-benefit analysis, where helping is driven by expected rewards.
C) Groupthink, where behavior aligns with group expectations.
D) Social facilitation, which motivates performance improvements.

Correct Answer: B) A cost-benefit analysis, where helping is driven by expected rewards.

Explanation: Social Exchange Theory posits that individuals engage in prosocial behavior based on a cost-benefit analysis—they help others when the perceived benefits outweigh the costs. This idea closely aligns with microeconomic decision-making models, such as utility maximization, where consumers or firms make decisions to maximize net benefits. Similarly, in social interactions, individuals may assist others if they expect future reciprocity, social approval, or emotional satisfaction, much like economic agents act when they foresee a positive return on investment.

Social Psychology