MCAT Basics (from MedSchoolCoach) Psychosocial Development and Identity
Oct 21, 2025
Explore the fascinating world of identity and psychosocial development. Discover Erikson’s stages, Freud's psychosexual theory, and Piaget's cognitive milestones. Learn how Cooley’s looking-glass self shapes our self-image and the significance of social feedback in today's world. Dive into Kohlberg’s moral development stages and Vygotsky’s insights on social interaction. This discussion sheds light on how these theories intertwine with MCAT prep and influence our understanding of self-concept and social roles.
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Core Self Constructs Defined
- Self-concept, self-esteem, self-efficacy, self-image, social identity, and locus of control are distinct constructs that shape behavior.
- Sam Smith clarifies differences and gives examples showing how each influences actions and motivation.
Memorize Erikson For MCAT Applications
- Memorize Erikson's eight stages with ages and central crises to answer MCAT questions reliably.
- Use a mnemonic like "trust autonomy to initiate the industry, identify intimacy and generate integrity" to keep order.
Erikson’s Crisis-Resolution Model
- Erikson frames development as resolving psychosocial crises at life stages; failure can cause stagnation at that stage.
- Each resolved crisis yields strengths like trust, autonomy, initiative, industry, identity, intimacy, generativity, or integrity.