Last visit was: 23 Apr 2026, 08:57 It is currently 23 Apr 2026, 08:57
Home
Messages
Tests
Schools
Events
Close
GMAT Club Daily Prep
Thank you for using the timer - this advanced tool can estimate your performance and suggest more practice questions. We have subscribed you to Daily Prep Questions via email.

Customized
for You

we will pick new questions that match your level based on your Timer History

Track
Your Progress

every week, we’ll send you an estimated GMAT score based on your performance

Practice
Pays

we will pick new questions that match your level based on your Timer History
Not interested in getting valuable practice questions and articles delivered to your email? No problem, unsubscribe here.
Go to My Error Log Learn more
Close
Request Expert Reply
Confirm Cancel
Back to Forum
Create Topic
805+ (Hard)|   Logical Flaw|      
avatar
rs47
avatar
Joined: 12 Feb 2014
Last visit: 27 Jun 2022
Posts: 75
Own Kudos:
387
 [23]
Given Kudos: 21
Location: India
Schools: LBS MIF '19
GMAT 1: 730 Q50 V40
GPA: 3.3
Schools: LBS MIF '19
GMAT 1: 730 Q50 V40
Posts: 75
Kudos: 387
 [23]
Social critic: One of the most important ways in which a society 22 Apr 2017, 08:29
2
Kudos
Add Kudos
21
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
00:00
Start Timer
Pause Timer
Resume Timer
Show Answer
Hide
Show
History
D
Be sure to select an answer first to save it in the Error Log before revealing the correct answer (OA)!

Difficulty:

95% (hard)

Question Stats:

39% (02:25) correct 61% (02:31) wrong based on 446 sessions

History

Date
Time
Result
Not Attempted Yet
Social critic: One of the most important ways in which a society socializes children is by making them feel ashamed of their immoral behavior. But in many people this shame results in deep feelings of guilt and self-loathing that can be a severe hardship. Thus, moral socialization has had a net effect of increasing the total amount of suffering.

The social critic's argument is most vulnerable to criticism on the grounds that it

(A) overlooks the possibility that the purported source of a problem could be modified to avoid that problem without being eliminated altogether

(B) fails to address adequately the possibility that one phenomenon may casually contribute to the occurrence of another, even though the two phenomena do not always occur together

(C) presumes, without providing justification, that a phenomenon that supposedly increases the total amount of suffering in a society should therefore be changed or eliminated, regardless of its beneficial consequences

(D) takes for granted that a behavior that sometimes leads to a certain phenomenon cannot also significantly reduce the overall occurrence of that phenomenon

(E) presumes, without providing justification, that if many people have a negative psychological reaction to a phenomenon, then no one can have a positive reaction to that phenomenon
ShowHide Answer
Official Answer
D
User avatar
GMATNinjaTwo
User avatar
GMAT Club Verbal Expert
Joined: 20 Nov 2016
Last visit: 02 Oct 2025
Posts: 212
Own Kudos:
1,108
 [1]
Given Kudos: 1,071
GMAT 1: 760 Q48 V47
GMAT 2: 770 Q49 V48
GMAT 3: 770 Q50 V47
GMAT 4: 790 Q50 V51
GRE 1: Q170 V169
Expert
Expert reply
GMAT 4: 790 Q50 V51
GRE 1: Q170 V169
Posts: 212
Kudos: 1,108
 [1]
Social critic: One of the most important ways in which a society 22 Apr 2017, 19:54
Kudos
Add Kudos
1
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
Quote:
Social critic: One of the most important ways in which a society socializes children is by making them feel ashamed of their immoral behavior. But in many people this shame results in deep feelings of guilt and self-loathing that can be a severe hardship. Thus, moral socialization has had a net effect of increasing the total amount of suffering.

The social critic's argument is most vulnerable to criticism on the grounds that it

(A) overlooks the possibility that the purported source of a problem could be modified to avoid that problem one phenomenon may casually contribute to the occurrence of another, even though the two phenomena do not always occur together

(B) fails to address adequately the possibility that one phenomenon may casually contribute to the occurrence of another, even though the two phenomena do not always occur together

(C) presumes, without providing justification, that a phenomenon that supposedly increases the total amount of suffering in a society should therefore be changed or eliminated, regardless of its beneficial consequences

(D) takes for granted that a behavior that sometimes leads to a certain phenomenon cannot also significantly reduce the overall occurrence of that phenomenon

(E) presumes, without providing justification, that if many people have a negative psychological reaction to a phenomenon, then no one can have a positive reaction to that phenomenon
Show more
The author's conclusion is that "moral socialization has had a net effect of increasing the total amount of suffering". Though the social critic concludes that moral socialization has caused a net increase in the amount of suffering, the author does NOT suggest that moral socialization should be changed or eliminated. In other words, the author only presents a theory and does not suggest a course of action to change the present situation. Thus, choice C must be eliminated.

Choice D suggests that the argument "takes for granted that a behavior {moral socialization} that sometimes leads to a certain phenomenon {suffering} cannot also significantly reduce the overall occurrence of that phenomenon {suffering}". We only know that, for many people, moral socialization leads to suffering (ie guilt and self-loathing) that can be a severe hardship. The passage does NOT state that most people experience guilt and self-loathing or that those feelings of guilt and self-loathing are a severe hardship for most of those people. Furthermore, moral socialization in general may in fact reduce the overall occurrence of suffering among the people in a society (ie by reducing suffering in other ways, possibly not related to guilt or self-loathing). In that case, even if moral socialization causes many people to suffer from guilt and self loathing, moral socialization could still have a net effect of decreasing the total amount of suffering; this contradicts the author's conclusion, so D is the best choice.
User avatar
Nightmare007
User avatar
Joined: 26 Aug 2016
Last visit: 05 Aug 2020
Posts: 426
Own Kudos:
447
Given Kudos: 204
Location: India
Concentration: Operations, International Business
Schools: ISB '20 (M) Simon '21 (WL)
GMAT 1: 690 Q50 V33
GMAT 2: 700 Q50 V33
GMAT 3: 730 Q51 V38
GPA: 4
WE:Information Technology (Consulting)
Products:
My Reviews
Schools: ISB '20 (M) Simon '21 (WL)
GMAT 3: 730 Q51 V38
Posts: 426
Kudos: 447
Social critic: One of the most important ways in which a society 22 Apr 2017, 21:01
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
Am inclined towards D. D and B were contenders D explicitly states the flaw.

Sent from my ONE A2003 using GMAT Club Forum mobile app
avatar
adityapareshshah
avatar
Joined: 17 Apr 2016
Last visit: 14 Nov 2017
Posts: 59
Own Kudos:
46
Given Kudos: 254
Posts: 59
Kudos: 46
Social critic: One of the most important ways in which a society 23 Apr 2017, 00:53
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
GMATNinjaTwo
Quote:
Social critic: One of the most important ways in which a society socializes children is by making them feel ashamed of their immoral behavior. But in many people this shame results in deep feelings of guilt and self-loathing that can be a severe hardship. Thus, moral socialization has had a net effect of increasing the total amount of suffering.

The social critic's argument is most vulnerable to criticism on the grounds that it

(A) overlooks the possibility that the purported source of a problem could be modified to avoid that problem one phenomenon may casually contribute to the occurrence of another, even though the two phenomena do not always occur together

(B) fails to address adequately the possibility that one phenomenon may casually contribute to the occurrence of another, even though the two phenomena do not always occur together

(C) presumes, without providing justification, that a phenomenon that supposedly increases the total amount of suffering in a society should therefore be changed or eliminated, regardless of its beneficial consequences

(D) takes for granted that a behavior that sometimes leads to a certain phenomenon cannot also significantly reduce the overall occurrence of that phenomenon

(E) presumes, without providing justification, that if many people have a negative psychological reaction to a phenomenon, then no one can have a positive reaction to that phenomenon
The author's conclusion is that "moral socialization has had a net effect of increasing the total amount of suffering". Though the social critic concludes that moral socialization has caused a net increase in the amount of suffering, the author does NOT suggest that moral socialization should be changed or eliminated. In other words, the author only presents a theory and does not suggest a course of action to change the present situation. Thus, choice C must be eliminated.

Choice D suggests that the argument "takes for granted that a behavior {moral socialization} that sometimes leads to a certain phenomenon {suffering} cannot also significantly reduce the overall occurrence of that phenomenon {suffering}". We only know that, for many people, moral socialization leads to suffering (ie guilt and self-loathing) that can be a severe hardship. The passage does NOT state that most people experience guilt and self-loathing or that those feelings of guilt and self-loathing are a severe hardship for most of those people. Furthermore, moral socialization in general may in fact reduce the overall occurrence of suffering among the people in a society (ie by reducing suffering in other ways, possibly not related to guilt or self-loathing). In that case, even if moral socialization causes many people to suffer from guilt and self loathing, moral socialization could still have a net effect of decreasing the total amount of suffering; this contradicts the author's conclusion, so D is the best choice.
Show more


Hi ,

Thanks for the explanation. Can you also explain why Option B is incorrect I selected B as this option says that the causal relationship between moral socialisation and the net increase in suffering caused by it is not addressed adequately.
User avatar
GMATNinjaTwo
User avatar
GMAT Club Verbal Expert
Joined: 20 Nov 2016
Last visit: 02 Oct 2025
Posts: 212
Own Kudos:
1,108
Given Kudos: 1,071
GMAT 1: 760 Q48 V47
GMAT 2: 770 Q49 V48
GMAT 3: 770 Q50 V47
GMAT 4: 790 Q50 V51
GRE 1: Q170 V169
Expert
Expert reply
GMAT 4: 790 Q50 V51
GRE 1: Q170 V169
Posts: 212
Kudos: 1,108
Social critic: One of the most important ways in which a society 23 Apr 2017, 08:31
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
Quote:
Thanks for the explanation. Can you also explain why Option B is incorrect I selected B as this option says that the causal relationship between moral socialisation and the net increase in suffering caused by it is not addressed adequately.
Show more
Quote:
(B) fails to address adequately the possibility that one phenomenon may casually contribute to the occurrence of another, even though the two phenomena do not always occur together
Show more
Choice B suggests that the argument fails to address adequately the possibility that one phenomenon (moral socialization) may casually contribute to the occurrence of another (suffering), even though the two phenomena (moral socialization and suffering) do not always occur together. The author does not, however, imply that moral socialization always causes suffering; rather, the social critic only implies that moral socialization leads to suffering (ie guilt and self loathing) in many people. Thus, the author does in fact allow for the possibility that moral socialization and suffering do not always occur together.
User avatar
Mahmud6
User avatar
Retired Moderator
Joined: 10 Mar 2013
Last visit: 01 Apr 2026
Posts: 381
Own Kudos:
901
Given Kudos: 235
Status:The best is yet to come.....
Posts: 381
Kudos: 901
Social critic: One of the most important ways in which a society 30 Aug 2017, 10:05
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
It seems option A contains the content of option B. Is it correct?

Posted from my mobile device
User avatar
GMATNinjaTwo
User avatar
GMAT Club Verbal Expert
Joined: 20 Nov 2016
Last visit: 02 Oct 2025
Posts: 212
Own Kudos:
1,108
Given Kudos: 1,071
GMAT 1: 760 Q48 V47
GMAT 2: 770 Q49 V48
GMAT 3: 770 Q50 V47
GMAT 4: 790 Q50 V51
GRE 1: Q170 V169
Expert
Expert reply
GMAT 4: 790 Q50 V51
GRE 1: Q170 V169
Posts: 212
Kudos: 1,108
Social critic: One of the most important ways in which a society 30 Aug 2017, 10:59
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
Mahmud6
It seems option A contains the content of option B. Is it correct?
Show more
Thanks Mahmud6 for noticing the mistake in the original post! Choice (A) has been corrected.

Quote:
Social critic: One of the most important ways in which a society socializes children is by making them feel ashamed of their immoral behavior. But in many people this shame results in deep feelings of guilt and self-loathing that can be a severe hardship. Thus, moral socialization has had a net effect of increasing the total amount of suffering.

The social critic's argument is most vulnerable to criticism on the grounds that it

(A) overlooks the possibility that the purported source of a problem could be modified to avoid that problem without being eliminated altogether

(B) fails to address adequately the possibility that one phenomenon may casually contribute to the occurrence of another, even though the two phenomena do not always occur together

(C) presumes, without providing justification, that a phenomenon that supposedly increases the total amount of suffering in a society should therefore be changed or eliminated, regardless of its beneficial consequences

(D) takes for granted that a behavior that sometimes leads to a certain phenomenon cannot also significantly reduce the overall occurrence of that phenomenon

(E) presumes, without providing justification, that if many people have a negative psychological reaction to a phenomenon, then no one can have a positive reaction to that phenomenon
Show more
User avatar
SmileAndSolve
User avatar
Joined: 25 Aug 2024
Last visit: 21 Apr 2026
Posts: 45
Own Kudos:
34
Given Kudos: 293
Location: India
Concentration: Strategy, Entrepreneurship
GPA: 4
Products:
My Reviews
Posts: 45
Kudos: 34
Social critic: One of the most important ways in which a society 15 Jun 2025, 04:47
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
(D) takes for granted that a behavior that sometimes leads to a certain phenomenon cannot also significantly reduce the overall occurrence of that phenomenon

This critic assumes moral socialization increases net suffering because it causes guilt and self-loathing. But what the critic ignores is that moral socialization might reduce immoral behavior overall, and thus reduce suffering that results from that behavior (e.g., crime, harm to others).
So, even if shame causes guilt in some, it may prevent worse suffering overall by discouraging immoral actions.

Therefore, the critic takes for granted that because socialization can cause suffering, it can't also prevent it. That’s the flaw D identifies.

Why E is Wrong:
(E) presumes, without providing justification, that if many people have a negative psychological reaction to a phenomenon, then no one can have a positive reaction to that phenomenon

This isn't quite the flaw. The critic doesn’t claim no one can benefit from moral socialization — only that many people suffer from it. The conclusion is about net suffering, not a blanket statement that everyone suffers. So the critic could still allow for positive reactions, but believes the negative outweighs the positive.

Thus, E addresses a straw man — a flaw the argument doesn’t actually commit.
User avatar
RiyaJ0032
User avatar
Joined: 13 Dec 2021
Last visit: 09 Feb 2026
Posts: 190
Own Kudos:
19
Given Kudos: 53
Posts: 190
Kudos: 19
Social critic: One of the most important ways in which a society 16 Jun 2025, 01:09
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
Hi GMATNinjaTwo,

Could you help addressing this doubt of mine regarding the solution you provided

You are saying that the behavior here refers to the "moralization" and the phenomenon here is "Suffering"

can't we also infer the behavior here refers to "immoral behavior" and the phenomenon here is "shame"

what if the shame experienced due to immoral behavior is sometimes significantly reduced
in this case, there won't be any feelings of guilt
and hence there won't be net increase in suffering

the stem assumes that there is net increase in suffering (which means it is implying that the number who suffer outweigh those who don't)

but this option is attacking that assumption that the numbers who suffer need not outweigh the ones who don't (As presented by the word "Sometimes" significantly reduce occurrence of that phenomenon)


Thanks
GMATNinjaTwo
Quote:
Social critic: One of the most important ways in which a society socializes children is by making them feel ashamed of their immoral behavior. But in many people this shame results in deep feelings of guilt and self-loathing that can be a severe hardship. Thus, moral socialization has had a net effect of increasing the total amount of suffering.

The social critic's argument is most vulnerable to criticism on the grounds that it

(A) overlooks the possibility that the purported source of a problem could be modified to avoid that problem one phenomenon may casually contribute to the occurrence of another, even though the two phenomena do not always occur together

(B) fails to address adequately the possibility that one phenomenon may casually contribute to the occurrence of another, even though the two phenomena do not always occur together

(C) presumes, without providing justification, that a phenomenon that supposedly increases the total amount of suffering in a society should therefore be changed or eliminated, regardless of its beneficial consequences

(D) takes for granted that a behavior that sometimes leads to a certain phenomenon cannot also significantly reduce the overall occurrence of that phenomenon

(E) presumes, without providing justification, that if many people have a negative psychological reaction to a phenomenon, then no one can have a positive reaction to that phenomenon
The author's conclusion is that "moral socialization has had a net effect of increasing the total amount of suffering". Though the social critic concludes that moral socialization has caused a net increase in the amount of suffering, the author does NOT suggest that moral socialization should be changed or eliminated. In other words, the author only presents a theory and does not suggest a course of action to change the present situation. Thus, choice C must be eliminated.

Choice D suggests that the argument "takes for granted that a behavior {moral socialization} that sometimes leads to a certain phenomenon {suffering} cannot also significantly reduce the overall occurrence of that phenomenon {suffering}". We only know that, for many people, moral socialization leads to suffering (ie guilt and self-loathing) that can be a severe hardship. The passage does NOT state that most people experience guilt and self-loathing or that those feelings of guilt and self-loathing are a severe hardship for most of those people. Furthermore, moral socialization in general may in fact reduce the overall occurrence of suffering among the people in a society (ie by reducing suffering in other ways, possibly not related to guilt or self-loathing). In that case, even if moral socialization causes many people to suffer from guilt and self loathing, moral socialization could still have a net effect of decreasing the total amount of suffering; this contradicts the author's conclusion, so D is the best choice.
Show more
Moderators:
GMATNinja
GMAT Club Verbal Expert
7391 posts
AbhishekP220108
501 posts
bhanu29
358 posts