MCAT Identity & Interactions Flashcards
Identity
How we perceive ourselves.
Self- concept v. social identity
Self- concept- how we think, and we feel about ourselves. Proposed by Carl Rogers.
Social identity- how we view ourselves as a member of a group.
Salience
The process of picking the most important social identity.
Erik Erikson’s psychosocial theory
States that we go through 8 stages of conflict during our life.
- Trust v. mistrust (ages: 0-3) - attentive care v. not
- Autonomy v. shame/ doubt (1-3 yrs) - Encouraged v. scolded
- Initiative v. guilt (3-6 yrs)- successful interaction v. criticism
- Industry v. inferiority (6-12 yrs) - learning skills v. not
- Identity v. role confusion (12-20 yrs.) - peer interaction v. not
- Intimacy v. isolation (20-40 yrs.) - can connect and love others v. not
- Generavity v. stagnation (40 -65 yrs.) - contribute to society v. not
- Integrity v. Despair (> 65 yrs) - feeling accomplished v. not.
Lawrence Kohlberg stages of moral development
Focusing on moral and ethical development. DOES NOT have ages associated with the stages.
Most people do not make it past stages 3 or 4.
Preconventional level- Morality is controlled by outside forces.
- Stage 1 - individuals avoid punishments.
- Stage 2 - Individuals maximize exchange of favors with others.
Conventional level- Morality is controlled by existing social norms and values.
- Stage 3 - desire to do good and please others.
- Stage 4 - obey laws
Post- conventional - morality controlled by universal moral principles.
- Stage 5 - laws can bend if by doing so they help a greater number of people.
- Stage 6 - justice and dignity applies to all people.
Identity formation
The process of integrating various social identities to create a sense of self.
Describe George Mead view of the presentation of the self
We have two “ versions” of our self that we present. The I and Me
I - unsocialized, spontaneous
Me- socialized, nonspontaneous
Describe how the “ I” and “ Me” of the self is developed
- Imitation - babies/ toddlers doesn’t have a sense of self separate from the world. They mimic the actions of the caregiver even without knowing the meaning of the actions.
- Play- through role- taking children develop their “ I” and the “ Me” starts to develop.
- Game - school- aged children develop the “Me” as they understand themselves in relation to others. Develops through the generalized other.
- Generalized other - what people view as society’s expectations of them.
Looking- glass self
We incorporate other’s opinions about us into our self.
Shapes how we view ourselves.
Describes Goffman dramaturgical approach
Dramaturgical approach describes how social interactions is like a play.
The person’s interaction is a “ script” that depends on the setting.
- Front stage self- interaction based on role performance and feedback from people they’re interacting with. Happens with acquaintances, strangers, professionals.
- Backstage self - interaction not based on a role performance and not seeking feedback. Happens with close friends and families.
Impression management
All the ways someone try to control how they present themselves to others.
The setting influences how you present yourself.
Status
A social position a person has in society.
Status set
The collection of all of your social statuses.
The setting determines which status you present.
Ascribed status v. Achieved status v. Master status
- Ascribed status - The status you’re assigned at birth
- Achieved status- status that has been achieved through merit
- Master status- status (or statuses) that overshadows other statuses. Can have multiple master statuses that dominants in different social sections.
Roles
Role performance
The behaviors that come with a particular status.
Role performance is carrying out the behaviors associated with a certain role.
Role strain v. Role conflict v. Role exit
Role strain - Stress in competing different roles within the same status.
Role conflict- stress in competing different roles associated with different statuses.
Role exit- When role conflict or role strain causes someone to leave a role and enter a new one.
Social group
A collection of individuals who interact with each other based on shared goals and interests.
Dyad group - groups consists of 2 people.
Triad group- groups consists of 3 people.
Primary group v. Secondary group
Primary group- close, personal interactions between members that usually are strong and last for a very long time (friends, families).
Secondary group- impersonal social interactions that are revolved around accomplishing a goal and then disbanding.
In- groups v. Out- groups
In-group - People that are part of the group and feel a sense of connection to that group.
Out-group - people that are not part of the group and do not feel a sense of connection to that group.
Reference group
A group that a person uses to compare themselves too.
Social ties
The relationship between members of group.
Large groups has more social ties and are stronger but smaller groups have stronger social ties.
Social Network
An informal web of connections between people, groups, or organizations.
They can have strong ties between a friend or family.
Or they can have a weak tie between acquaintances of friends of friends.
Social network analysis
The process of analyzing a person’s social network.
Social capital
The advantage a social network can have for an individual.
This can prove extremely beneficial if a weak tie connected through a strong tie lead to connections.
Organizations
A complex group that works together for a shared goal.
Informal v. formal organizations
- Informal organization- organization that does not have formal roles or rules.
-Formal organization- organization that has formal roles and rules usually in the form of policies.
Bureaucracy
A type of organization characterized by maximizing efficiency and productivity through the specialization of tasks.
What was Max Weber’s ideas of bureaucracy?
They are needed for society and there are features that make the ideal bureaucracy.
I. Division of labor- specialization of tasks.
II. Hierarchical structure - clear chain of command.
III. Standardization- clear written rules that ensures uniformity.
IV. Impersonal and Impartial procedures for hiring/ firing/ and promoting.
V. Written records are kept keeping track of productivity.
** They’re known to be difficult to navigate and rigid.
Law of Oligarchy
States that a bureaucracy can eventually be rule by the few that act to preserve their power rather than act in the good of the organization.
McDonaldlization. Describe each element and their drawback.
- Efficiency
- Calculability
- Predictability
- Control
The process of incorporating the elements of a bureaucracy into society.
- Efficiency - states that the quickest and least expensive systems are needed. Drawback- personalization is not available.
-Calculability- quantity over quality. Drawback- decrease in quality of product.
- Predictability - everything is standardized (same across the organization). Drawback - doesn’t leave room for innovation and uniqueness.
- Control- increase in automation (like AI or kiosks). Drawback - can limit the need for a skilled workforce.
Cultural capital v. social capital
Cultural capital is the knowledge, skills, and education that helps get your social position in society.
Social capital is the connections that your social network provides you.
Social epidemiology
Analyzes of how social and cultural factors effect health.
Social cognitive theory
We learn by observing others. Modeling is the process of imitating what others do or don’t do.
Social reproduction
When inequality is passed down from one generation to the next.
