Psych/Soc is the most underestimated section on the MCAT — and for well-prepared students, one of the most reliable score boosters. It rewards vocabulary mastery and theory recognition above all else.
Why Psych/Soc Is Different From the Other Science Sections
Unlike Chem/Phys or Bio/Biochem, Psych/Soc tests specific vocabulary and named theories — many of which have precise definitions you simply need to know. There is less "reasoning from first principles" and more "do you know what this term means?" This makes it one of the most directly studyable sections.
It also consistently tests social determinants of health — the AAMC explicitly emphasizes health disparities, social stratification, and the impact of socioeconomic factors on health outcomes. These topics appear in almost every Psych/Soc section.
Psychology: Major Theories and Their Researchers
Developmental theories (must know all stages)
| Theorist | Theory | Core concept |
|---|---|---|
| Piaget | Cognitive development | Sensorimotor (0–2), Preoperational (2–7), Concrete operational (7–11), Formal operational (12+). Key concepts: object permanence, conservation, egocentrism, abstract reasoning |
| Erikson | Psychosocial development (8 stages) | Each stage = crisis to resolve. Infant: trust vs. mistrust. Toddler: autonomy vs. shame. School-age: industry vs. inferiority. Adolescent: identity vs. role confusion. Adult: intimacy, generativity, ego integrity |
| Kohlberg | Moral development (3 levels) | Preconventional (punishment/reward), Conventional (social rules/laws), Postconventional (abstract moral principles). Critiqued by Gilligan for male bias |
| Vygotsky | Sociocultural development | Zone of proximal development (ZPD): gap between what child can do alone vs. with guidance. Scaffolding. Social interaction drives development. |
| Freud | Psychoanalytic theory | Id (pleasure principle), Ego (reality principle), Superego (morality). Stages: oral, anal, phallic (Oedipal complex), latency, genital |
Learning theories
| Concept | Key features | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Classical conditioning (Pavlov) | Neutral stimulus paired with unconditioned stimulus → conditioned response. Extinction, spontaneous recovery, generalization, discrimination | Dog salivates to bell after bell paired with food |
| Operant conditioning (Skinner) | Reinforcement (positive = add something; negative = remove something). Punishment (positive = add aversive; negative = remove pleasant). Schedules of reinforcement affect extinction resistance | Variable ratio schedule is most resistant to extinction (slot machine) |
| Observational learning / social learning (Bandura) | Learning through observation and modeling. Self-efficacy. Bobo doll experiment | Child imitates violent behavior seen on TV |
Memory and cognition
- Encoding: Semantic (meaning) > acoustic (sound) > visual (appearance) for long-term retention
- Storage: Sensory memory (milliseconds) → short-term/working memory (7±2 items, seconds) → long-term memory (unlimited, permanent)
- Explicit memory: Episodic (personal events) + semantic (facts/concepts). Hippocampus dependent.
- Implicit memory: Procedural skills, classical conditioning. Hippocampus-independent.
- Retrieval cues: Context-dependent memory, state-dependent memory, mood-congruent memory
Sociology: The High-Yield Vocabulary
Social stratification and inequality
Social class: Hierarchical division of society based on economic resources, cultural capital, and social prestige. Marx: bourgeoisie (owners) vs. proletariat (workers). Weber: class, status, and party as three dimensions of stratification.
Cultural capital (Bourdieu): Non-financial social assets — education, manners, speech patterns, taste — that promote social mobility. Health literacy is a form of cultural capital directly relevant to health outcomes.
Social mobility: Intergenerational (between generations) vs. intragenerational (within one lifetime). Vertical (up or down the hierarchy) vs. horizontal (same level, different position). US social mobility has declined in recent decades.
Social determinants of health (high MCAT frequency)
| Determinant | Health impact |
|---|---|
| Socioeconomic status (SES) | Lower SES → higher rates of virtually all chronic disease, higher mortality, less access to care |
| Education level | Higher education associated with better health literacy, preventive care use, and health outcomes |
| Neighborhood/place | Food deserts, environmental toxins, walkability, green space all affect health independently of income |
| Race/ethnicity | Racial health disparities persist after controlling for SES — social stress (weathering hypothesis), discrimination, implicit bias in healthcare delivery |
| Social support/isolation | Social isolation is an independent risk factor for mortality comparable to smoking 15 cigarettes/day |
Other essential sociology terms
- Medicalization: Process by which non-medical human conditions become defined as medical problems requiring treatment (e.g., ADHD, obesity)
- Sick role (Parsons): Social expectations of ill individuals — exempted from normal duties, not blamed for illness, obligated to seek treatment and return to normal
- Stigma (Goffman): Deeply discrediting social attribute. Affects help-seeking behavior — stigmatized conditions (mental illness, addiction) are underreported and undertreated
- Relative deprivation: Feeling of disadvantage when comparing oneself to a reference group — even if objectively well-off, relative deprivation affects health outcomes
- Social network: Web of social relationships. Dense networks provide support but also facilitate disease transmission (infections, behaviors)
Psychological Disorders: MCAT-Level Overview
The MCAT tests diagnostic criteria at a broad level — not specific DSM-5 criteria. Know the major categories: mood disorders (MDD, bipolar), anxiety disorders (GAD, panic, phobias, PTSD, OCD), psychotic disorders (schizophrenia), eating disorders, personality disorders, and substance use disorders. Know which neurotransmitters are implicated in each (dopamine in schizophrenia/reward, serotonin in mood/anxiety, GABA in anxiety, norepinephrine in mood).
Practice with adaptive questions
Progress Note has 6,000+ questions across Step 1, Step 2, NCLEX, and pre-med tracks — with test readiness scoring that updates every session.
Try free →