MCAT stuff to review (this will be long)

what are the different types of decay

What are the 5 stages of the Demographic Transition Model, and what happens to birth & death rates in each?

Stage 1 – Pre-industrial

• High birth rate, high death rate

• Little to no population growth

Stage 2 – Transitional

• High birth rate, falling death rate

• Rapid population growth

Stage 3 – Industrial

• Falling birth rate, low death rate

• Population growth slows

Stage 4 – Post-industrial

• Low birth rate, low death rate

• Stable population

Stage 5 – Declining

• Birth rate < death rate

• Population decline

Key rule: Death rate drops first, birth rate drops later.

What is a feedback loop, and what is the difference between positive and negative feedback?

A feedback loop is a process where a system’s output feeds back into the system to regulate future activity.

Negative feedback loop:

• Output reduces the original stimulus

• Maintains homeostasis

• Most common in the body

• Example:

  • Body temperature regulation

  • Blood glucose regulation (insulin & glucagon)

Positive feedback loop:

• Output amplifies the original stimulus

• Pushes system away from equilibrium

• Occurs until a specific endpoint is reached

• Example:

  • Childbirth (oxytocin → contractions → more oxytocin)

  • Blood clotting

Key rule:

Negative = stabilize, Positive = amplify

What is actor–observer bias?

• Attribute our own behavior to situational factors

• Attribute others’ behavior to dispositional traits

Example:

• Me: “I did poorly because the test was unfair.”

• Them: “They did poorly because they’re lazy.”

Key cue: Me vs them

What is the fundamental attribution error?

The tendency to:

• Overemphasize dispositional factors

• Underemphasize situational factors
  when explaining others’ behavior

Example:

• “That driver is reckless.” (ignores situational context)

Key cue: Them only

What are the stages of Piaget’s cognitive development theory?

1. Sensorimotor (0–2): learning through senses & actions; object permanence

2. Preoperational (2–7): symbolic thinking; egocentrism, no conservation

3. Concrete operational (7–11): logical thinking about concrete objects; conservation

4. Formal operational (12+): abstract and hypothetical reasoning

Mnemonic:
Some People Can Fly

What are the effects of high vs low self-efficacy on behavior and outcomes?

High Self-Efficacy

• ↑ motivation & persistence

• Takes on challenging tasks

• Views failure as fixable

• Better academic, health, and coping outcomes

Low Self-Efficacy

• ↓ motivation & effort

• Avoids challenges

• Attributes failure to lack of ability

• ↑ risk of anxiety, learned helplessness, poor performance

Key cue: High → try & persist; Low → avoid & give up

What are the main functions of the frontal lobe?

• Executive function: planning, decision-making

• Problem solving & reasoning

• Motor cortex: voluntary movement

• Broca’s area (usually left): speech production

• Personality, impulse control, and social behavior

What are the main functions of the parietal lobe?

• Somatosensory cortex: touch, temperature, pain

• Spatial orientation & body awareness

• Integrates sensory info for perception and navigation

What are the main functions of the temporal lobe?

• Auditory processing & hearing

• Wernicke’s area (usually left): language comprehension

• Memory formation (hippocampus located here)

• Emotion (amygdala located here)

What is the main function of the occipital lobe?

• Visual cortex: processing visual info (color, shape, motion)

What are the main functions of the brainstem?

• Basic life functions: heart rate, breathing, sleep-wake cycle

• Reflexes: swallowing, coughing, vomiting

• Relay: connects brain & spinal cord

What are the main functions of the limbic system?

• Emotion: amygdala → fear & aggression

• Memory: hippocampus → forming new memories

• Motivation & reward: nucleus accumbens

• Regulates autonomic responses

What are the 8 stages of Erikson’s psychosocial development, including age ranges, conflicts, and key outcomes?

• Trust vs. Mistrust (0–1 yr) → world is reliable → hope

• Autonomy vs. Shame & Doubt (1–3 yr) → independence → will

• Initiative vs. Guilt (3–6 yr) → assertiveness → purpose

• Industry vs. Inferiority (6–12 yr) → competence, skills → competence

• Identity vs. Role Confusion (12–18 yr) → sense of self → fidelity

• Intimacy vs. Isolation (18–40 yr) → close relationships → love

• Generativity vs. Stagnation (40–65 yr) → contribute to society → care

• Integrity vs. Despair (65+ yr) → reflection on life → wisdom

• Mnemonic for MCAT:

  “Trust All Innocent Individuals In Generous Integrity”

What is cultural capital, and what are its main types?

Definition: Non-financial social assets that help a person gain social mobility (knowledge, skills, education, behaviors valued by society).

Types:

1. Embodied: skills, knowledge, habits, manners

2. Objectified: cultural goods, books, instruments, art

3. Institutionalized: formal credentials, degrees, titles

MCAT Tip: Think Bourdieu; often tested in context of social inequality & education.

What is social capital, and why is it important?

Definition: The networks of relationships among people that provide access to resources, support, and opportunities.

Key Points:

• Includes connections, social networks, and community ties

• Can enhance social mobility and improve health/outcomes

• Complements cultural capital (knowledge/skills)

• Often passed through family, community, or institutions

MCAT Tip: Think “who you know” vs “what you know”.