Social Functions - Doctrine

[goelmohit2002]

Hi All,

Can someone please look into the below question?

OA is [spoiler]"D"[/spoiler]

That social institutions influence the formation of character has become a
generally accepted proposition. This doctrine views individuals as but compliant recipients of social influence: personalities are entirely the products of society, and at any point in life an individual’s personality can be changed by management of the social world. Crime is said to exist only because society has in some ways failed in its responsibility to give every person the resources to lead a productive life. However, whereas it is true that extreme poverty forces some people to steal, it is obvious that some persons will commit crimes no matter how well society
treats them.

Which of the following is an assumption of the passage above?
(A) Social institutions may reflect personality as much as they shape it.
(B) Social influence on personality is most strongly felt by the affluent.
(C) The concentration of wealth in the hands of a privileged few accounts for the existence of crime.
(D) Bringing about social reform is the most likely means of curtailing crime.
(E) Less severe punishment of crime would be likely to result in more crime.

Thanks
Mohit

[S0laris]

P1(main conclusion): social institutions form character
p2: person is product of society
p3: person can be changed by management of social institution
p4: poor steals because lack of resources
P5(minor conclusion): however, some resourceful people will steal anyway

assumption(for P1 and P5): social institution responsible for outlaws

I think that main assumption is A

D - strengthens both conclusion and assumption, but it's not the assumption because there is no conclusion like "The new law reduced the number of crimes"

Can somebody explain it ?

[delhiboy1979]

I would go for D only because it says something that is relevant. The text nowhere says that social institutions reflect personalities however it does say that it is the other way round. For this reason I would prefer D over A.

[goelmohit2002]

I too was stuck between "A" and "D".

But in "D", they are talking about social reform....how social reform is relevant to this argument ?

Thanks
Mohit

[rseeker2]

D says 'Bringing about social reform is the most likely means of curtailing crime.'

Wouldn't this be negating what is seen in the question stem?
'it is true that extreme poverty forces some people to steal, it is obvious that some persons will commit crimes no matter how well society treats them'

So how good a reform is, no matter how well it leads an individual to be treated by the society, chances still exist that crimes are committed.... this would be negating whatever is stated in the passage...

[gmat620]

What is the source of this question ? I think it is badly written...nothing in passage supports D..even A is hard to believe but I thought this assumption can strengthen the argument..so I choose A...experts plz throw some light...thanks!!

[ashley.com]

I would go with option D