Necessary AssumptionDiff: Medium
Logic Breakdown
Passage Summary: Since some new psychology theories are better at predicting what people do than Freud's old theories, we should just throw Freud's ideas away and use the new ones.
Conclusion: We should stop using Freudian psychological theories and start using these newer, more predictive theories instead.
Reasoning: The newer theories use different causal explanations and have a higher success rate in predicting how humans will behave.
Analysis: The psychologist assumes that 'predictive success' is the primary or only metric that matters when choosing a psychological theory. If there were other valuable reasons to keep a theory—like its ability to provide therapeutic insight or explain past events—the argument for total abandonment would crumble. Look for an answer that bridges the gap between 'being better at predicting' and 'being the reason to switch theories.' The argument needs it to be true that predictive power is the deciding factor for a theory's worth, regardless of how 'suggestive' the old theory might be.
Conclusion: We should stop using Freudian psychological theories and start using these newer, more predictive theories instead.
Reasoning: The newer theories use different causal explanations and have a higher success rate in predicting how humans will behave.
Analysis: The psychologist assumes that 'predictive success' is the primary or only metric that matters when choosing a psychological theory. If there were other valuable reasons to keep a theory—like its ability to provide therapeutic insight or explain past events—the argument for total abandonment would crumble. Look for an answer that bridges the gap between 'being better at predicting' and 'being the reason to switch theories.' The argument needs it to be true that predictive power is the deciding factor for a theory's worth, regardless of how 'suggestive' the old theory might be.
Passage Stimulus
Passage Redacted
Unlock Full Passage5.Which one of the following is an assumption on which the psychologist's argument depends?
Correct Answer
B
It supplies the missing principle: if a theory predicts better, it is scientifically preferable. Negation test: if greater predictive success does NOT make a theory preferable, then the mere fact that other theories predict better gives no reason to abandon Freud; the argument collapses. So this principle is necessary.
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