UWorld Examples - BS

Question 1

Define LIFE COURSE APPROACH and give an example

Answer 1

life course approach is a holistic, multi-disciplinary framework for understanding how psych, bio, and sociocultural factors ACROSS A LIFETIME have a cumulative effect on health outcomes

eg research suggests respiratory infections, low SES, and smoking risk factors increase likelihood of developing COPD

Question 2

Define SICK ROLE THEORY and give an example

Answer 2

Sick Role Theory is a functional approach describing how disruption to typical social activity (eg work) caused by illness is minimized through the SICK ROLE, which legitimizes illness as socially acceptable deviance.

Question 3

Define ILLNESS EXPERIENCE and give an example

Answer 3

illness experience is a symbolic interactionist approach to understanding how people incorporate and make sense of illness (e.g. HIV) as part of their self-ID (e.g. black man) and daily routines (e.g. repeated, unprotected sex)

Question 4

Define SOCIAL CONSTRUCTIONISM and give an example

Answer 4

Social constructionism suggests that social reality is created thru interpersonal interactions (eg currency exchange), which result in shared meaning (eg value of currency) and expected roles/behaviors. (eg pay for valuables with currency)

Question 5

Define JAMES-LANGE THEORY and give an example

Answer 5

James-Lange theory states that specific emotions are produced by stimuli (eg loud noise) that produces specific physiological reactions (eg increased HR) ,which is then transmitted as sensory info to brain via spinal cord

Question 6

Define COMMON SENSE THEORY and give an example

Answer 6

Common-Sense Theory states that emotion occurs (eg fear), then body response occurs (eg increased HR).

Question 7

Define CANNON-BARD THEORY and give an example

Answer 7

Cannon-Bard Theory states physiological arousal (eg increased HR) and emotion (eg fear) are INDEPENDENT processes that occur SIMULTANEOUSLY.

Question 8

Define SCHACTER-SINGER THEORY and give an example

Answer 8

Schacter-Singer Theory states physiological arousal (eg increased HR) forces brain to interpret situation and elicits an emotional response (eg fear because situation is deemed dangerous)

Question 9

Define THEORY OF UNIVERSAL EMOTIONS and give an example

Answer 9

Theory of Universal Emotions states that certain emotions (eg sad, happy, excited, etc) are expressed and detected by everyone, regardless of culture

Question 10

Define ROLE STRAIN and give an example

Answer 10

Role strain is defined as competing EXPECTATIONS within a single role creates tension.

eg student struggles to find enough time to complete homework (expectation 1) and study for MCAT (expectation 2)

Question 11

Define ROLE CONFLICT and give an example

Answer 11

Role conflict is defined as competing ROLES (2+) creates tension.

eg student (role 1) is employed (role 2) and a father (role 3) and a husband (role 4), struggling to find enough time to complete all expectations

Question 12

Define ROLE EXIT and give an example

Answer 12

Role exit is defined as when an individual disengages from a social role, often replacing it with a new social role.

eg medical resident (old role) completes licensure and becomes physician (new role)

Question 13

Define LOOKING-GLASS SELF and give an example

Answer 13

Looking-Glass Self suggests that our interpretation of how we are perceived by others impacts our self-concept (beliefs about ourselves).

eg my wife sees me as a lazy person, which impacts my self-worth and self-image

Question 14

Define ELABORATION LIKELIHOOD MODEL of PERSUASION and give example

Answer 14

When an individual is UNINTERESTED in a message, superficial factors (eg speaker is attractive and celebrity) might be most persuasive.

Question 15

Define SYMBOLIC INTERACTIONISM and give an example

Answer 15

Symbolic interactionism is a micro-level sociological theory that states people communicate with symbols (eg hand gestures)

Question 16

Define DRAMATURGICAL PERSPECTIVE and give an example

Answer 16

DRAMATURGICAL perspective Individuals behave as actors, behaving in front of others the way that they should based on social norms

Question 17

Define HABITUATION and give an example

Answer 17

Decreased response to a stimulus over time

Eg no longer noticing a sweater is scratchy after a few minutes wearing it

Question 18

Define DIShabituation and give an example

Answer 18

A renewed response to a previously habituated stimulus

Eg putting itchy sweater back on a few minutes after taking it off

Question 19

Define SENSITIZATION and give an example

Answer 19

Increased response to a stimulus over time

Eg sweaters itchiness becomes more itchy until it is unbearable

Question 20

Define DEsensitization and give an example

Answer 20

Decreased response to a previously sensitized stimulus over time

Eg irritation from previously unbearable scratchiness diminishes over time

Question 21

Define HALO EFFECT and give an example

Answer 21

Halo effect is an attributional error that occurs when an individual with a positive quality (eg physically attractive) is assumed to have other positive qualities (eg intelligence)