Hypnotized subjects

This topic has expert replies
Master | Next Rank: 500 Posts
Posts: 142
Joined: Sun Jun 12, 2011 7:55 am
Thanked: 5 times
Followed by:3 members

Hypnotized subjects

by metallicafan » Wed Apr 03, 2013 4:43 pm
When hypnotized subjects are told that they are deaf and are then asked whether they can hear the hypnotist, they reply, "No." Some theorists try to explain this result by arguing that the selves of hypnotized subjects are dissociated into separate parts, and that the part that is deaf is dissociated from the part that replies.
Which of the following challenges indicates the most serious weakness in the attempted explanation described above?
(A) Why does the part that replies not answer,"Yes"?
(B) Why are the observed facts in need of any special explanation?
(C) Why do the subjects appear to accept the hypnotist's suggestion that they are deaf?
D) Why do hypnotized subjects all respond the same way in the situation described?
E) Why are the separate parts of the self the same for all subjects?

Although it is a official question, this question doesn't seem a typical question. What is the approach or method to solve it?
Finally, this question seems a Weaken question, but it is a Flaw in the Reasoning, right?

User avatar
GMAT Instructor
Posts: 2193
Joined: Mon Feb 22, 2010 6:30 pm
Location: Vermont and Boston, MA
Thanked: 1186 times
Followed by:512 members
GMAT Score:770

by David@VeritasPrep » Wed Apr 03, 2013 6:05 pm
You are correct that you are pointing out the flaw, but the phrasing is not the typical description of the flaw, it does what the question indicates - it is a "challenge" as in a question that would be put to the "theorists."

It is like the game show Jeopardy...your answer is in the form of a question!

You are right that it is a strange one. But I think that you can just approach it as you so often do on critical reasoning - spot the flaw. This is a great thing to do on critical reasoning regardless of the type of question. If you can spot the gap in the reasoning you are always ahead.

Here you can see that the person hears the question but claims that they cannot! If their mind is truly separated into two parts, and the deaf part is not the part that replies - well you can see what would be true - if the deaf part is not the part listening then the answer should be "yes!"

I think that these unusual questions are fun! What do you think?
Veritas Prep | GMAT Instructor

Veritas Prep Reviews
Save $100 off any live Veritas Prep GMAT Course