LSAT 112 – Section 3 – Question 13

LSAT 112 - Section 3 - Question 13

December 2001

You need a full course to see this video. Enroll now and get started in less than a minute.

Target time: 1:26

This is question data from the 7Sage LSAT Scorer. You can score your LSATs, track your results, and analyze your performance with pretty charts and vital statistics - all with a Free Account ← sign up in less than 10 seconds

Question QuickView	Type	Tags	Answer Choices	Curve	Question Difficulty	Psg/Game/S Difficulty	Explanation
PT112 S3 Q13	+LR	Flaw or descriptive weakening +Flaw Causal Reasoning +CausR Eliminating Options +ElimOpt	A 86% 160 B 2% 153 C 5% 152 D 5% 158 E 2% 149	122 136 149	+Easier	144.548 +SubsectionEasier

While it was once believed that the sort of psychotherapy appropriate for the treatment of neuroses caused by environmental factors is also appropriate for schizophrenia and other psychoses, it is now known that these latter, more serious forms of mental disturbance are best treated by biochemical—that is, medicinal—means. This is conclusive evidence that psychoses, unlike neuroses, have nothing to do with environmental factors but rather are caused by some sort of purely organic condition, such as abnormal brain chemistry or brain malformations.

The author concludes that psychoses have nothing to do with environmental factors and are caused only by organic conditions. She supports this by saying that neuroses that are caused by environmental factors are treated with therapy, but psychoses are more easily treated with medicine.

Identify and Describe Flaw

The author believes that psychoses are caused by physical factors (or organic conditions) because they respond better to medicine, while neuroses, caused by environmental factors, are treated with therapy. She overlooks the possibility that both environmental and physical factors could contribute to psychoses, or that environmental factors could lead to the physical conditions that cause psychoses.

the organic conditions that result in psychoses can be caused or exacerbated by environmental factors

The author ignores the possibility that environmental factors might cause or worsen the physical conditions that then result in psychoses. She assumes that psychoses “have nothing to do with environmental factors” and are caused only by physical factors.

the symptoms of mental disturbance caused by purely organic factors can be alleviated with medicine

The author doesn't ignore this possibility. She argues that psychoses, which she claims are caused by purely organic factors, are best treated with medicine.

organic illnesses that are nonpsychological in nature may be treatable without using biochemical methods

The author doesn’t discuss this, but it doesn’t weaken her argument because she’s only addressing psychological illnesses. The treatment of nonpsychological illnesses is irrelevant.

the nature of any medical condition can be inferred from the nature of the treatment that cures that condition

The author actually seems to assume that the nature of a medical condition can be inferred from the nature of its treatment. She draws a conclusion about the nature of psychoses based on the nature of their treatment. So, (D) doesn’t describe something that the other ignores.

organic factors having little to do with brain chemistry may be at least partially responsible for neuroses

The author’s conclusion is about psychoses, not neuroses. She ignores the possibility that environmental factors may be at least partially responsible for psychoses.

LSAT 112 – Section 3 – Question 13

LSAT 112 - Section 3 - Question 13

You need a full course to see this video. Enroll now and get started in less than a minute.

Take PrepTest

Review Results

LSAT PrepTest 112 Explanations

Section 1 - Logical Reasoning

Section 2 - Reading Comprehension

Section 3 - Logical Reasoning

Section 4 - Logical Reasoning

Leave a Reply Cancel