MCAT Social and Behavioral Sciences

An exploration of the psychological, social, and cultural factors that influence human health and behavior, tailored for MCAT preparation.

Foundations of PsychologySocial Structure and DemographicsCulture and Identity
Psychological Disorders and TreatmentSocialization and Group DynamicsSocial Stratification and Inequality
Application of the Biopsychosocial Model in MedicineCultural Competence in HealthcareAddressing Social Determinants of Health
Critical Reading and Passage AnalysisApplying Theories to Scenarios
Foundations of Psych...Social Structure and...Culture and IdentityPsychological Disord...Socialization and Gr...Social Stratificatio...Application of the B...Cultural Competence ...Addressing Social De...Critical Reading and...Applying Theories to...
Study Strategies

Critical Reading and Passage Analysis

Mastering MCAT Passages

To excel in the Social and Behavioral Sciences section, practice reading passages carefully and extracting key concepts. Focus on identifying the main idea, supporting evidence, and underlying assumptions. Mark keywords and look for relationships between psychological and social concepts.

Tips

  • Skim the passage for structure before reading in detail.
  • Summarize each paragraph in your own words.
  • Watch for contrasting viewpoints and subtle arguments.

Examples

  • Highlighting cause-and-effect relationships between social factors and health outcomes.

  • Noting when a passage introduces a new theory or challenges an old one.

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Applying Theories to Scenarios