PrepTest 149

Correct. Argument or Facts:
Argument

Valid or Flawed:
Flawed

Question Type:
Errors in Reasoning

Stimulus Summary:
Effective message to subconscious → Repeated many times
Mesmosis videos hypnotize you and tell you to experience a statement said once as if it had been repeated many times
Conclusion Ð Mesmosis videos are effective

Answer Anticipation:
This stimulus has a single conditional statement that it applies to a scenario, so we should consider both whether the conditional logic is applied correctly and whether the sufficient condition of the conditional is met.

Starting with the first consideration, we can see that the argument doesn't get the conditional logic right. The premise establishes a requirement for a message to the subconscious to be effective—it must be repeated many times. However, the argument then goes on to establish that a message was "repeated" many times, concluding it would be effective. That's an illegal reversal.

For the second consideration, let's pretend that the conditional logic isn't flawed—that the premise establishes a repeated message will be effective. Does the situation it tries to apply it to—Mesmosis videos—meet that? Nope! While the message may be directed to be treated as if repeated many times, that initial message—that future statements should be treated as repeated—was only stated once, and so it wouldn't be effective, thus preventing future messages from being experienced as repeated. So the argument fails to establish the necessary condition of the conditional is met.

Two flaws, but only one will show up as a correct answer, so let's stay flexible.

Answer Explanation:
This answer highlights the second flaw we noted. The stimulus establishes repetition as a requirement for a direction to the subconscious to be effective. It then brings up a direction that was only stated once, not repeated ("Treat future statements as if . . . "), and so it overlooks that requirement for its key instruction.

Key Takeaway:
Flawed arguments that feature conditional logic tend to have illegal reversals and negations, even when the argument applies a conditional principle to a specific case. However, when there is the application of a conditional principle, an additional flaw present is often that the argument fails to establish the sufficient condition is met in that case. Check to see if there's any gap between how the scenario is described and what the principle requires.

Incorrect. The argument doesn't assume direct proportionality—just that repetition is required for effectiveness. That could be a binary determination—it needs a certain level of repetition to be effective, but then any additional repetition won't make it more effective.

Incorrect. The argument doesn't conclude that hypnosis is the "most effective" technique, so this answer is incorrect.

Incorrect. The conclusion is that Mesmosis videos are effective, but this isn't based on a premise or assumption saying the same. It's based on an analysis of what makes hypnosis effective and (insufficient) premises speaking to how these videos meet those requirements.

Incorrect. This answer describes an absence of evidence flaw, but there's no discussion of a flawed argument against hypnosis, so this answer is wrong.