🧠 Understanding Prejudice: A Social Psychology Insight for the MCAT
Prejudice refers to preconceived judgments or attitudes—often negative—toward individuals based on their perceived group membership. This includes categories such as race, gender, religion, culture, disability, age, and sexual orientation. Prejudice may be conscious (explicit) or unconscious (implicit), and it plays a central role in how humans relate to each other in society.
🔎 The Core Elements of Prejudice
Prejudice is composed of three major components:
| Component | Description |
|---|---|
| Cognitive | Stereotypes or beliefs about a group (e.g., "women are bad at math"). |
| Affective | Feelings or emotions linked to group membership (e.g., fear, dislike). |
| Behavioral | The actions taken against a group (e.g., discrimination, exclusion). |
🧬 Prejudice in MCAT-Relevant Concepts
Understanding prejudice ties into sociology, psychology, and behavior sections of the MCAT. Let’s review some key topics:
1. Stereotypes vs. Prejudice vs. Discrimination
| Term | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Stereotype | Oversimplified ideas or generalizations about a group (cognitive component). |
| Prejudice | Negative attitudes or feelings toward a group (affective component). |
| Discrimination | Behaviors and actions based on prejudices (behavioral component). |
🏥 Prejudice in Clinical and Social Settings
Medical professionals may witness or experience bias in the healthcare system. Prejudice can lead to:
Unequal access to care
Mistrust in patient-provider relationships
Stereotyping of patients based on cultural background
💡 Example MCAT Scenario:
A patient from a minority background is assumed to have lower pain tolerance, leading to under-medication. This reflects a stereotype that evolves into prejudiced behavior and poor care.
👥 Types of Prejudice Explored
Here are key forms of prejudice tested on the MCAT:
| Type | Example Scenario |
|---|---|
| Racial Prejudice | Profiling individuals based on ethnicity. |
| Gender Prejudice | Assuming men are better surgeons than women. |
| Ageism | Ignoring input from an elderly patient assuming cognitive decline. |
| Ableism | Avoiding hiring someone due to a visible disability. |
| Religious Prejudice | Judging someone based on their attire or faith practices. |
🛠️ Strategies to Combat Prejudice
✔️ Perspective-taking
✔️ Intergroup contact theory
✔️ Education and empathy-based training
✔️ Implicit bias workshops
📊 MCAT Sample Question
A nurse assumes that an elderly patient will be unable to use modern technology and doesn't offer instructions for an online patient portal. What does this represent?
A. Stereotyping
B. Discrimination
C. Cultural relativism
D. EthnocentrismCorrect Answer: A.
The nurse made a cognitive assumption without assessing individual capability.
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