Causal assumption - Power Score

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Causal assumption - Power Score

by agarwalva » Thu May 03, 2012 10:47 am
Doctors in Britain have long suspected that patients who wear tinted eyeglasses are abnormally prone to depression and hypochondria. Psychological tests given there to hospital patients admitted for physical complaints like heart pain and digestive distress confirmed such a relationship. Perhaps people whose relationship to the world is psychologically painful
choose such glasses to reduce visual stimulation, which is perceived as irritating. At any rate, it can be concluded that when such glasses are worn, it is because the wearer has a tendency to be depressed or hypochondriacal.
The argument assumes which one of the following?
(A) Depression is not caused in some cases by an organic condition of the body.
(B) Wearers do not think of the tinted glasses as a means of distancing themselves from other people.
(C) Depression can have many causes, including actual conditions about which it is reasonable for anyone to be depressed.
(D) For hypochondriacs wearing tinted glasses, the glasses serve as a visual signal to others that the wearer's health is delicate.
(E) The tinting does not dim light to the eye enough to depress the wearer's mood substantially.

OA E

In a causal relationship.. the assumption is the stated cause is the only cause...

I thought the answer choice(B) Wearers do not think of the tinted glasses as a means of distancing themselves from other people. .. is an alternative cause...

Why is B wrong.. if we negate B....glasses is used because the wearer wants to distance himself from others

Please explain
Source: — Critical Reasoning |

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by bigbrihh » Thu May 03, 2012 11:14 am
If you are looking for a causal relationship, you are looking at something like X therefore Y.

The conclusion states that because they are hypochondriacs or depressed they choose to wear tinted glasses. X therefore Y.

answer choice (E) gives us Y therefor X is NOT true. This answer fits an assumption of the argument because it basically tells us that it is not the case wearing tinted eyeglasses causes peoples mood to be depressed.

hope this helps.

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by agarwalmanoj2000 » Fri May 04, 2012 12:02 am
Why is B wrong.. if we negate B....glasses is used because the wearer wants to distance himself from others

Conclusion: People wearing tinted glassed has a tendency to be depressed or hypochondriacal.

Why not B?
Negate B: Wearers think of the tinted glasses as a means of distancing themselves from other people.
This does not specify any relationship between people wearing tinted glasses and depression. Distancing from others does not imply depressed. Conclusion still stands, so this is not the answer.

Why E?
Negate E: The tinting dims light to the eye enough to depress the wearer's mood substantially.
It means that wearing tinted glasses causes the depression, so the conclusion falls apart. This is the answer.

HTH