LSAT 119 – Section 3 – Question 05

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Question
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Type Tags Answer
Choices
Curve Question
Difficulty
Psg/Game/S
Difficulty
Explanation
PT119 S3 Q05
+LR
Main conclusion or main point +MC
Value Judgment +ValJudg
A
0%
138
B
1%
151
C
97%
164
D
1%
148
E
1%
147
129
136
142
+Easier 145.195 +SubsectionEasier

Psychologist: Because of a perceived social stigma against psychotherapy, and because of age discrimination on the part of some professionals, some elderly people feel discouraged about trying psychotherapy. They should not be, however, for many younger people have greatly benefited from it, and people in later life have certain advantages over the young—such as breadth of knowledge, emotional maturity, and interpersonal skills—that contribute to the likelihood of a positive outcome.

Summarize Argument: Counter-Position
The psychologist argues that elderly people should not be discouraged about trying psychotherapy. He supports this claim with the fact that younger people have benefitted from psychotherapy. He then claims that older people’s greater knowledge, maturity, and interpersonal skills mean that they are even more likely to benefit from psychotherapy than younger people.
The psychologist does give some reasons why some elderly people may be reluctant to try psychotherapy (social stigma against the treatment and age discrimination) but these reasons provide context for the idea that the psychologist is arguing against.

Identify Conclusion
The psychologist claims that, although elderly people may feel discouraged against psychotherapy, “they should not be.”

A
Certain psychotherapists practice age discrimination.
This is context. This claim provides a potential explanation for why elderly people may be discouraged about trying psychotherapy, but our psychologist is arguing that they should not feel discouraged. This answer gives support for the idea that the psychologist argues against.
B
Elderly people are better able to benefit from psychotherapy than are younger people.
This is a premise for why elderly people should not be discouraged about trying psychotherapy. This fact gives them more of a reason to try psychotherapy.
C
Elderly people should not be reluctant to undergo psychotherapy.
This is the conclusion. This claim is supported by the facts that many younger people have benefitted from psychotherapy, and older people may be more likely to have a positive outcome.
D
Characteristics associated with maturity are important factors in psychotherapy’s success.
This is a premise that lends support to the claim that elderly people should not be discouraged about trying psychotherapy.
E
Elderly people are less inclined to try psychotherapy than are younger people.
We actually don’t know this from the argument. We only know that some elderlhy people are discouraged about trying psychotherapy, and that many younger people have benefitted it. We don’t have enough information to compare the two groups’ inclinations in trying psychotherapy.

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