Flawed ReasoningDiff: Easy
Logic Breakdown
Passage Summary: People with high blood pressure tend to be stressed out, so being a stressed-out person must be the reason they got high blood pressure in the first place.
Conclusion: Being a nervous or anxious person is what leads to the development of high blood pressure.
Reasoning: There is a statistical correlation showing that people with high blood pressure are generally more nervous and anxious than those without it.
Analysis: This is a textbook 'correlation vs. causation' error where the author observes two things happening together and assumes a specific causal direction. It is just as likely that the physical condition (high blood pressure) causes the psychological state (anxiety), or that a third factor causes both. The argument fails to account for the possibility of 'reverse causation.' Look for an answer that describes this failure to consider that the causal relationship could be the opposite of what is stated.
Conclusion: Being a nervous or anxious person is what leads to the development of high blood pressure.
Reasoning: There is a statistical correlation showing that people with high blood pressure are generally more nervous and anxious than those without it.
Analysis: This is a textbook 'correlation vs. causation' error where the author observes two things happening together and assumes a specific causal direction. It is just as likely that the physical condition (high blood pressure) causes the psychological state (anxiety), or that a third factor causes both. The argument fails to account for the possibility of 'reverse causation.' Look for an answer that describes this failure to consider that the causal relationship could be the opposite of what is stated.
Passage Stimulus
Passage Redacted
Unlock Full Passage3.The reasoning in the argument is most vulnerable to criticism on the ground that the argument
Correct Answer
D
The argument misinterprets a correlation between nervous/anxious traits and high blood pressure as showing that those traits cause high blood pressure, ignoring reverse causation and third-variable explanations.
Upgrade Your Prep
Ready to go beyond free explanations?
LSAT Perfection is the #1 modern LSAT prep platform, trusted by thousands of students for comprehensive test strategies, advanced drilling, and full analytics on every PrepTest.
Detailed explanations for 59 PrepTests
Advanced drillset builder
Personalized analytics
Built-in Wrong Answer Journal