Prison inmates are far more likely to be mentally ill than members of

Question

Prison inmates are far more likely to be mentally ill than members of the general population. This fact shows that the peculiar environment of prison, with its inherent stresses and deprivations, tends to cause or exacerbate symptoms of mental illness.

The reasoning in the argument is most vulnerable to criticism on the basis that the argument

A. fails to define the term “mentally ill”

B. presupposes that the prison environment is unique

C. simply restates the claim that there are “inherent stresses and deprivations” in prison without providing any evidence in support

D. takes a correlation between mental illness and prison as proof that prison causes mental illness

E. focuses on stress and deprivation only, while ignoring other characteristics of the prison environment

chetan2u · Answer

Premise  :- Prison inmates are far more likely to be mentally ill than members of the population.
 Conclusion :- This fact shows that the peculiar environment of prison, with its inherent stresses and deprivations, tends to cause or exacerbate symptoms of mental illness.

The reasoning in the argument is most vulnerable to criticism on the basis that the argument

Criticism :- it should something that stands in between premise and conclusion

A. fails to define the term “mentally ill”
 the argument is not about the term

B. presupposes that the prison environment is unique
  does not effect the reasoning

C. simply restates the claim that there are “inherent stresses and deprivations” in prison without providing any evidence in support
 we are not looking for evidence for conclusion but something between premise and conclusion

D. takes a correlation between mental illness and prison as proof that prison causes mental illness
  Correct.. it can be that the person coming to person are more prone to these illnesses 
E. focuses on stress and deprivation only, while ignoring other characteristics of the prison environment
 the reasoning is based on these points resulting in mental illness

D is the best

gilltaurus · Answer

D is the answer 
If cause n effect is reversed, the argument falls apart 
What if prison inmates already have psychic issues, Nd that leads to stressful environment

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TaN1213 · Answer

In case the conclusion had stated - tends to  cause or  exacerbate symptoms of mental illness.- then wouldn't have D been incorrect ?

AshutoshB · Answer

Official Explanation

highlight]The best answer is D 
Simply finding two things together—in this case, being in prison and a higher likelihood of mental illness—does not mean that one caused the other. In fact, based on the correlation given, it is just as likely that having a mental illness increases the likelihood that one will be incarcerated as that incarceration causes mental illness. Although the other answer choices contain true statements, they fail to identify any flaw in the relationship between the evidence and the conclusion presented in the argument.

Hit Kudos

JatinBhandari1 · Answer

Hope your preparation is going well.
This is a causal pattern. As per the argument, living in prison causes mental illness, however, the author fails to take into account other factors that can lead to mental illness. This is the flaw present in the argument.
Now, let us do the process of elimination
A, B, C and, E don't affect the reasoning. D is correct and exactly matches with our predicted answer.
Keep practicing. Consistency is the key.
PythaGURUS Faculty Team

VivekSri · Answer

I am okay with the option D and it indeed takes a correlation between mental illness and prison as proof that prison causes mental illness, but I am still not able to completely eliminate the option C, any one can help  bb ,  KarishmaB

KarishmaB · Answer

Options will sometimes pick the exact wording of the argument to confuse you into thinking that it must be correct. Option (C) is incorrect.

The argument:

Prison inmates are far more likely to be mentally ill than gen pop.
This shows that prison tends to cause or worsen symptoms of mental illness.

What is the author's CLAIM? That prison causes mental illness.

The phrase 'with its inherent stresses and deprivations' is modifying prison. It is not the author's CLAIM. He gives it to justify in some small measure why prison could be causing mental illnesses. So it is a part of the premises, not a claim. Hence, to say that the argument restates the claim that 'prison has inherent stresses...' is incorrect.

The flaw is that he assumes a causation where only a correlation exists.

Prison inmates are far more likely to be mentally ill than members of

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GMAT Critical Reasoning (CR) Questions

Prison inmates are far more likely to be mentally ill than members of

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615 to 715 in 15 Days (Ria's Strategies)

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