AAMC MCAT Psychological and Social Foundations 1 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Which stage of Erikson's psychosocial development involves 'trust vs. mistrust'?
- Infancy (0–18 months) (Correct answer)
- Early childhood (2–3 years)
- Preschool age (3–5 years)
- School age (6–11 years)
Correct answer: Infancy (0–18 months)
Erikson's first stage centers on whether caregivers reliably meet the infant's needs, establishing a foundational sense of trust or mistrust.
Question 2: What is the key difference between classical and operant conditioning?
- Classical pairs stimuli to produce reflexive responses; operant uses consequences to shape voluntary behavior (Correct answer)
- Classical uses rewards; operant uses neutral stimuli
- Both involve only involuntary responses
- Operant was developed by Pavlov; classical by Skinner
Correct answer: Classical pairs stimuli to produce reflexive responses; operant uses consequences to shape voluntary behavior
Classical conditioning (Pavlov) pairs a neutral stimulus with an unconditioned stimulus; operant conditioning (Skinner) uses reinforcement and punishment to modify voluntary behavior.
Question 3: In Maslow's hierarchy, which need must be satisfied before esteem needs?
- Love and belonging needs (Correct answer)
- Physiological needs
- Self-actualization needs
- Cognitive needs
Correct answer: Love and belonging needs
Maslow's hierarchy places social belonging below esteem; one must feel connected and accepted before seeking achievement or recognition.
Question 4: What is the fundamental attribution error?
- Overattributing others' behavior to their personality while ignoring situational factors (Correct answer)
- Attributing your own failures to external causes
- Overestimating luck in others' success
- Believing your behavior is more common than it is
Correct answer: Overattributing others' behavior to their personality while ignoring situational factors
The fundamental attribution error describes our tendency to explain others' actions via character while ignoring the situational context they faced.
Question 5: Which neurotransmitter is most associated with reward pathways and motivation?
- Dopamine (Correct answer)
- Serotonin
- GABA
- Acetylcholine
Correct answer: Dopamine
Dopamine is the key neurotransmitter in the mesolimbic reward pathway, reinforcing pleasurable behaviors and motivating goal-directed action.
Question 6: What is 'social loafing'?
- Individuals exerting less effort in a group than when working alone (Correct answer)
- Groups performing worse on simple tasks than individuals
- Individuals becoming more productive when observed
- Group members conforming to majority opinion
Correct answer: Individuals exerting less effort in a group than when working alone
Social loafing occurs when personal contributions are less identifiable within a group, reducing individual effort and accountability.
AAMC MCAT Psychological and Social Foundations 1
Which stage of Erikson's psychosocial development involves 'trust vs. mistrust'?