Social Psychology for the MCAT: Everything You Need to Know

Learn key MCAT concepts about social psychology, plus practice questions and answers

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Part 1: Introduction to social psychology

Humans are innately social creatures. Human interactions with others form a network of social relationships that allow a society to function. These interactions and behaviors are shaped by several frameworks in social psychology that stem from both biological bases and cultural norms. Understanding these frameworks helps us to better understand how and why people act in the ways they do.

These concepts may be particularly difficult to study due to the sheer number of concepts and definitions that must be memorized. This guide will help to break down the main terms and concepts needed for the MCAT and will provide real-life examples similar to those that will appear on exam day. Several important terms will be bolded and defined throughout the guide. However, feel free to create your own terms and definitions/examples as you progress through the guide so that they serve you best!

Along with knowing the terms and concepts, you will also need to know how to apply them to real-life situations that the MCAT will present. At the end of this guide, there is an MCAT-style passage and standalone questions that will test your knowledge on the covered topics.

Let’s begin!

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Part 2: Socialization by individuals

As an individual, a large part of one’s needs (either biological, physical, emotional, etc.) is fulfilled by one’s interactions with others. By understanding the motivations behind the need to socialize, along with the various methods of socialization that are used, one can gain a better understanding of how and why individuals behave the way they do.

Socialization

Socialization is a dynamic and ongoing process by which individuals grow to become a part of their society by internalizing that society’s values and norms. Some of these norms exist among all cultures and societies, while others are social constructs, or norms that are artificially created by that society and propagate. It is in this manner of socialization that individuals of a society are encouraged to follow natural order and become a part of their society.

Social construct theory is an extreme view of society and socialization that considers all meanings to be created through communications between individuals in the society. Through these communications, both weak social constructs and strong social constructs can be created. Weak social constructs are immutable facts about the universe that cannot be altered through human-imposed meaning (such as the existence of gravity and other fundamental forces), while strong social constructs are given meaning through the perspectives and conditions of a certain society. 

Frontstage & backstage behavior

A large part of one’s identity is shaped by one’s behavior, or presentation of self. By managing one’s self-presentation, people are able to influence how others perceive them. People imagine themselves as playing roles when interacting with others. When in public and interacting with others, frontstage behavior takes place, in which individuals engage in self-monitored behavior that they believe others expect to observe. Once alone or with people who are close to them, they switch to backstage behavior, in which they no longer have to heed the rules of society and can act as they please. 

Foot-in-the-door & door-in-the-face techniques

These are two opposite yet fascinating tricks of persuasion. One can find them often used in traditional sales techniques and advertisements. The foot-in-the-door technique is a persuasion technique that gets people to agree to large requests by starting out with a small request at first. Individuals are more likely to accept these small requests, which then increases the probability of agreeing to a later, large request. 

Think of your favorite bulk foods store—they get their foot in the door with customers by offering free samples of food, which in return serves as a way to persuade customers to buy that food in bulk (even if not originally on their shopping list!). Asking others to sign petitions is another common example of this technique—agreeing to the small task of signing a name on a piece of paper may increase the probability of one attending a gathering or contributing money.

The door-in-the-face technique works in the opposite way, where a large and often unreasonable request is made at first. While this request may be immediately turned down, a second, more reasonable request is made immediately after. The second request is more likely to be agreed to than when this request is made in isolation. 

Consider asking a friend to help you move apartments. While your friend may initially refuse to help you when you ask them to commit a weekend to move boxes up and downstairs, they may agree to a later request for help in moving a single sofa down a flight of stairs.

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Dr. Shemmassian

Dr. Shirag Shemmassian is the Founder of Shemmassian Academic Consulting and well-known expert on college admissions, medical school admissions, and graduate school admissions. For nearly 20 years, he and his team have helped thousands of students get into elite institutions.