MCAT® Behavioral Sciences: Psych, Sociology & Biology
What the Psych/Soc Section Tests & How to Prepare
The Psychological, Social, & Biological Foundations of Behavior section is a 95-minute, 59-question test of your knowledge of psychology, sociology, biology, and research methods as they apply to health and medicine. Unlike other MCAT sections, this one rewards conceptual fluency over calculation — which is exactly why working with an expert tutor like Dr. Donnelly can produce such rapid score gains.
Understanding how psychological, social, and biological factors shape health behaviors and outcomes is fundamental to medical education — and central to what this MCAT section tests.
You will be tested on how psychological, social, and biological factors shape perception, behavior, identity, and well-being — and how social stratification and access to resources affect health outcomes. Dr. Donnelly helps you build the vocabulary and frameworks to answer these questions quickly and accurately.
Foundational Concepts 6–10
Psychology, Sociology & Biology Topics Tested on the MCAT
Foundational Concept 6: Biological, psychological, and sociocultural factors influence the ways that individuals perceive, think about, and react to the world.
- 6A: Sensing the environment
- 6B: Making sense of the environment
- 6C: Responding to the world
Foundational Concept 7: Biological, psychological, and sociocultural factors influence behavior and behavior change.
- 7A: Individual influences on behavior
- 7B: Social processes that influence human behavior
- 7C: Attitude and behavior change
Foundational Concept 8: Psychological, sociocultural, and biological factors influence the way we think about ourselves and others, as well as how we interact with others.
- 8A: Self-identity
- 8B: Social thinking
- 8C: Social interactions
Foundational Concept 9: Cultural and social differences influence well-being.
- 9A: Understanding social structure
- 9B: Demographic characteristics and processes
Foundational Concept 10: Social stratification and access to resources influence well-being.
- 10A: Social inequality
