Behavior
60 flashcards covering Behavior for the MCAT Chem / Phys / Psych / Soc section.
Behavior is the observable actions and reactions of individuals and organisms in response to internal and external stimuli. It encompasses everything from basic reflexes and learned habits to complex social interactions, shaped by factors like genetics, environment, and culture. Understanding behavior helps explain how people think, feel, and relate to one another, making it essential for fields like psychology and sociology.
On the MCAT, behavior appears in the Psychological, Social, and Biological Foundations section, often through passage-based questions that test concepts like conditioning, social influence, or cognitive biases. You'll encounter multiple-choice items requiring application of theories, analysis of experiments, or evaluation of ethical dilemmas, with common traps including mistaking correlation for causation or overlooking contextual variables. Focus on integrating biological underpinnings, such as neurotransmitters, with social factors to answer accurately.
Remember to practice linking behavioral theories to real-world examples for better recall.
Terms (60)
- 01
Classical Conditioning
A learning process where a neutral stimulus becomes associated with a meaningful stimulus to produce a conditioned response, as studied by Pavlov.
- 02
Operant Conditioning
A learning process where behaviors are modified through consequences, such as rewards or punishments, as developed by Skinner.
- 03
Reinforcement
A process that strengthens a behavior by providing a consequence, such as positive reinforcement adding a desirable stimulus or negative reinforcement removing an aversive one.
- 04
Punishment
A consequence that weakens a behavior, either by presenting an aversive stimulus or removing a desirable one, often used in behavioral modification.
- 05
Extinction in Learning
The gradual weakening and disappearance of a conditioned response when the conditioned stimulus is repeatedly presented without the unconditioned stimulus.
- 06
Spontaneous Recovery
The reappearance of a previously extinguished conditioned response after a period of rest, demonstrating that extinction does not erase the original learning.
- 07
Stimulus Generalization
The tendency for a conditioned response to occur in response to stimuli similar to the original conditioned stimulus, as seen in Pavlov's experiments.
- 08
Stimulus Discrimination
The ability to differentiate between similar stimuli and respond only to the specific conditioned stimulus, a key aspect of refined learning.
- 09
Observational Learning
Learning that occurs by watching others and the consequences of their actions, as explained in Bandura's social learning theory.
- 10
Bandura's Social Learning Theory
A theory that emphasizes learning through observation, imitation, and modeling, including the role of self-efficacy in behavior.
- 11
Memory Encoding
The initial process of transforming sensory information into a form that can be stored in memory, involving attention and rehearsal.
- 12
Memory Storage
The maintenance of encoded information over time in the brain, involving different systems like short-term and long-term storage.
- 13
Memory Retrieval
The process of accessing and bringing stored information into consciousness, which can be influenced by cues and context.
- 14
Sensory Memory
A brief storage system that holds sensory information for a fraction of a second, allowing for initial processing before further attention.
- 15
Short-Term Memory
A temporary storage system that holds a limited amount of information for about 20-30 seconds, unless rehearsed for long-term transfer.
- 16
Long-Term Memory
A relatively permanent storage system for information that can last from minutes to a lifetime, including declarative and procedural types.
- 17
Schemas
Mental frameworks that organize and interpret information based on prior knowledge, influencing how new experiences are understood and remembered.
- 18
Priming
The activation of certain associations in memory that make related information easier to recall or process, often unconsciously.
- 19
Attitudes
Evaluative tendencies toward objects, people, or ideas, consisting of cognitive, affective, and behavioral components that influence actions.
- 20
Cognitive Dissonance
The uncomfortable mental state arising from holding conflicting attitudes or behaviors, motivating individuals to resolve the inconsistency.
- 21
Conformity
The change in behavior or belief due to real or imagined group pressure, as demonstrated in Asch's experiments on social influence.
- 22
Asch's Conformity Experiments
Studies showing that people often agree with a unanimous incorrect group opinion, highlighting the power of social norms on individual behavior.
- 23
Obedience
Compliance with an authority figure's commands, even if they conflict with personal conscience, as explored in Milgram's research.
- 24
Milgram's Obedience Study
An experiment demonstrating that ordinary people can administer harmful shocks under authority pressure, revealing factors influencing obedience.
- 25
Groupthink
A phenomenon in group decision-making where the desire for harmony leads to irrational or poor outcomes by suppressing dissenting viewpoints.
- 26
Social Facilitation
The enhancement of well-learned tasks or impairment of complex ones due to the presence of others, affecting performance through arousal.
- 27
Deindividuation
The loss of self-awareness and individual identity in group settings, leading to behaviors that individuals might not exhibit alone.
- 28
Altruism
Helping behavior that benefits others at a cost to oneself, often driven by empathy or social norms, without expectation of reward.
- 29
Bystander Effect
The phenomenon where individuals are less likely to help in an emergency when others are present, due to diffusion of responsibility.
- 30
Aggression
Any behavior intended to harm another person, which can be influenced by biological, psychological, and environmental factors.
- 31
Frustration-Aggression Hypothesis
The idea that frustration creates an aggressive drive, leading to aggressive behavior as a response to blocked goals.
- 32
Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs
A motivational theory that arranges human needs in a pyramid, from basic physiological needs to self-actualization, guiding behavior.
- 33
Drive Reduction Theory
A motivation theory proposing that behaviors are driven by the need to reduce internal drives, such as hunger, to maintain homeostasis.
- 34
Intrinsic vs. Extrinsic Motivation
Intrinsic motivation comes from internal rewards like enjoyment, while extrinsic motivation stems from external rewards like money, affecting persistence.
- 35
James-Lange Theory of Emotion
A theory stating that emotions result from physiological responses to stimuli, meaning we feel emotion after the body's reaction.
- 36
Cannon-Bard Theory of Emotion
A theory that physiological arousal and emotional experience occur simultaneously, independent of each other, in response to stimuli.
- 37
Schachter-Singer Theory of Emotion
A theory that emotions depend on both physiological arousal and cognitive interpretation of the situation, as in labeling arousal.
- 38
Big Five Personality Traits
A model describing personality through five dimensions: openness, conscientiousness, extraversion, agreeableness, and neuroticism, influencing behavior.
- 39
Freud's Psychoanalytic Theory
A theory that unconscious drives and early childhood experiences shape personality and behavior, divided into id, ego, and superego.
- 40
Erikson's Psychosocial Stages
A theory of development across eight stages, each involving a psychosocial crisis that affects personality and social behavior.
- 41
Piaget's Cognitive Development Stages
A theory outlining four stages of intellectual development from infancy to adolescence, where children actively construct understanding through interaction.
- 42
Kohlberg's Stages of Moral Development
A theory dividing moral reasoning into three levels—preconventional, conventional, and postconventional—based on how individuals justify ethical behavior.
- 43
Culture
The shared beliefs, values, norms, and practices of a group that shape individual and collective behavior across generations.
- 44
Norms
Social rules that guide behavior in specific situations, enforced through rewards or sanctions to maintain social order.
- 45
Values
Broad ideas about what is desirable or important in life, influencing individual and group behavior in various cultural contexts.
- 46
Socialization
The lifelong process by which individuals learn and internalize the norms, values, and behaviors of their society through agents like family and education.
- 47
Social Stratification
The hierarchical arrangement of individuals in society based on factors like wealth and power, affecting opportunities and behavior.
- 48
Social Mobility
The ability to move up or down in social class, influenced by education and economic changes, which impacts life choices and behavior.
- 49
Deviance
Behavior that violates social norms, which can be labeled as such by society and lead to formal or informal sanctions.
- 50
Anomie
A state of normlessness or social instability, as described by Durkheim, that can result in deviant behavior due to weakened social bonds.
- 51
Labeling Theory
A theory that suggests deviant behavior arises from societal labels and reactions, which can reinforce and perpetuate the labeled identity.
- 52
Primary Groups
Small, intimate groups like family or friends that provide emotional support and shape personal behavior through close interactions.
- 53
Secondary Groups
Larger, impersonal groups like coworkers or classmates that focus on specific goals and influence behavior in formal ways.
- 54
Reference Groups
Groups that individuals use as a standard for evaluating their own attitudes and behavior, whether they belong to them or not.
- 55
Bureaucracy
A formal organizational structure with hierarchical authority, rules, and division of labor that standardizes behavior in large institutions.
- 56
Demography
The study of population characteristics like size, growth, and distribution, which influence social behaviors and societal trends.
- 57
Population Growth
The increase in a population over time due to birth rates, death rates, and migration, affecting resource availability and behavior.
- 58
Urbanization
The process of population shift from rural to urban areas, leading to changes in social structures, behaviors, and community interactions.
- 59
Prejudice
A preconceived negative attitude toward a group, often based on stereotypes, that can lead to discriminatory behavior.
- 60
Stereotypes
Oversimplified beliefs about the characteristics of a group, which can influence perceptions and behaviors toward its members.