Foundational Concept 8
Foundational Concept 8Foundational Concept 8: Psychological, sociocultural, and biological factors influence the way we think about ourselves and others, as well as how we interact with others.
The connection between how people think about themselves and others is complex and affects social interactions. The interplay between thoughts about ourselves, thoughts about others, and our biology has important implications for our sense of self and interpersonal relationships.
Foundational Concept 8 focuses on the physical, cognitive, and social components of our identity, as well as how these components influence the way we think about and interact with others.
Content Categories:
- Category 8A focuses on the notion of self and identity formation.
- Category 8B focuses on the attitudes and beliefs that affect social interaction.
- Category 8C focuses on the actions and processes underlying social interactions. With these building blocks, medical students will be able to learn how to communicate and collaborate with patients and other members of the health care team.
Content Category 8A: Self Identity
Content Category 8A: Self IdentityThe self refers to the thoughts and beliefs we have about ourselves. Our notion of self is complex and multifaceted. It includes gender, racial, and ethnic identities, as well as beliefs about our ability to accomplish tasks and exert control over different situations.
Our notion of self develops over time and is shaped by a variety of factors, including society, culture, individuals and groups, and our unique experiences. How we view ourselves influences our perceptions of others and, by extension, our interactions with them.
The content in this category covers the notions of self-concept and identity, along with the role of self-esteem, self-efficacy, and locus of control in the development of self-concept. Identity formation, including developmental stages and the social factors that affect identity formation, is also covered here. Theories are included to provide historical context for the field of identity formation.
| Topic | Our Social World | Introduction to Sociology | Sociology: Exploring the Architecture of Everyday Life | Exploring Psychology |
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Self Concept, Self-identity, and Social Identity (PSY, SOC)
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Groups |
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Formation of Identity (PSY, SOC)
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Groups |
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Content Category 8B: Social Thinking
Content Category 8B: Social ThinkingSocial thinking refers to the ways we view others and our environment, as well as how we interpret others’ behaviors. A variety of factors — personality, environment, and culture — factor into the beliefs and attitudes we develop.
Our beliefs and attitudes about others and the environment also shape the way we interact with each other. To interact with others, we need to interpret different aspects of a situation, including our perception of ourselves, the behavior of others, and the environment.
The content in this category covers our attitudes about others and how those attitudes develop, including how perceptions of culture and environment affect attributions of behavior. It also covers how our attitudes about different groups — prejudice, stereotypes, stigma, and ethnocentrism — may influence our interactions with group members.
| Topic | Our Social World | Introduction to Sociology | Sociology: Exploring the Architecture of Everyday Life | Exploring Psychology |
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Attributing Behavior to Persons or Situations (PSY)
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NA | NA | NA |
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Prejudice and Bias (PSY, SOC)
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Race and Ethnicity |
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Processes Related to Stereotypes (PSY)
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NA |
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Content Category 8C: Social Interactions
Content Category 8C: Social InteractionsHumans are social beings by nature. Though the sentiment is simple, the actions and processes underlying and shaping our social interactions are not.
The changing nature of social interaction is important for understanding the mechanisms and processes through which people interact with each other, both individually and within groups. A variety of factors — environment, culture, and biology — affect how we present ourselves to others and how we treat them. For example, perceptions of prejudice and stereotypes can lead to acts of discrimination, whereas positive attitudes about others can lead to the provision of help and social support.
The content in this category covers the mechanisms of self-presentation and social interaction including expressing and detecting emotion, impression management, communication, the biological underpinning of social behavior, and discrimination.
| Topic | Our Social World | Introduction to Sociology | Sociology: Exploring the Architecture of Everyday Life | Exploring Psychology |
|---|---|---|---|---|
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Elements of Social Interaction (PSY, SOC)
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Groups |
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Self-Presentation and Interacting with Others (PSY, SOC)
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NA | Groups |
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Social Behavior (PSY)
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NA | Groups | NA |
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Discrimination (PSY, SOC)
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Race and Ethnicity |
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