Logical Reasoning

PT123 · S3 · Q13 Therapist: Cognitive psychotherapy focuses

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Therapist: Cognitive psychotherapy focuses on changing a patient’s conscious beliefs.

Evidence

Cognitive psychotherapy focuses on changing a patient’s conscious beliefs.

Only conscious beliefs are under the patient’s direct conscious control.

Conclusion

Thus, cognitive psychotherapy is likely to be more effective at helping patients overcome psychological problems than are forms of psychotherapy that focus on changing unconscious beliefs and desires.

Evaluate

The argument assumes that therapy that focuses on what’s under a patient’s direct conscious control is more effective than therapy that does not.

13.

Which one of the following, if true, would most strengthen the therapist's argument?

  1. Psychological problems are frequently caused

    Weakens

    This weakens the argument by suggesting that therapies that focus on unconscious beliefs could be effective.

    4% picked this

  2. Correct

    It is difficult for any

    Why this is right

    This provides the linking assumption in the argument.

    Skill tested: Strengthen · how this choice captures the argument's function is the move to repeat next time.

    54% picked this

  3. Cognitive psychotherapy is the only

    Premise Support

    This supports the first premise and ensures that cognitive psychotherapy stands alone in its focus on changing a patient’s conscious beliefs.

    16% picked this

  4. No form of psychotherapy that

    Too Weak

    This requires further assuming that such forms of psychotherapy do not help to change beliefs that are under the patient’s direct conscious control.

    22% picked this

  5. All of a patient’s conscious

    Reversal

    This reverses the second premise.

    3% picked this

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