Sociology Flashcards
7 cards from real MCAT practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 7 Sociology flashcards as text
Which of the following best illustrates the concept of 'relative deprivation'?
Answer: A factory worker who feels poor after moving to a wealthy neighborhood, despite earning the same income
Relative deprivation is the subjective sense of disadvantage experienced when individuals compare themselves to a reference group that has more.
In a study on racial health disparities, researchers find that Black Americans receive less pain medication than White Americans with identical diagnoses. This is an example of:
Answer: Institutional discrimination
Institutional discrimination occurs when policies or practices of organizations systematically disadvantage certain groups, even without individual prejudice as the direct cause.
George Herbert Mead's concept of the 'generalized other' refers to:
Answer: The internalized sense of the expectations and attitudes of society as a whole
The generalized other represents an individual's awareness of societal norms and expectations, which are internalized through social interaction during development.
A community health program that provides resources to all residents of a low-income neighborhood rather than targeting specific individuals reflects which health equity principle?
Answer: Population-level intervention
Population-level interventions address the social and environmental determinants of health for entire communities rather than focusing on individual-level behavior change.
The 'looking-glass self' theory developed by Charles Cooley suggests that one's self-concept is primarily shaped by:
Answer: How one imagines others perceive and judge them
Cooley's looking-glass self proposes that individuals develop their identity based on how they think others see them, including imagining others' judgments.
Which of the following best describes 'social stratification'?
Answer: The hierarchical ranking of individuals or groups in a society based on wealth, power, or prestige
Social stratification refers to the structured ranking of social positions, creating layers of inequality that are perpetuated across generations.
A hospital notices that patients with lower health literacy are less likely to follow discharge instructions, leading to higher readmission rates. A functionalist would most likely attribute this pattern to:
Answer: A mismatch between institutional communication norms and patients' cultural backgrounds
Functionalism emphasizes how different parts of the social system must work together; health literacy gaps represent a dysfunction between healthcare institutions and patient populations.