The refrigerator mothers theory attributed childhood autism to emotionally distant parenting and dominated psychological understanding in the 1940s an...
GMAT Expression of Ideas : (Expression) Questions
The refrigerator mothers theory attributed childhood autism to emotionally distant parenting and dominated psychological understanding in the 1940s and 1950s. Recent neurological research, however, has conclusively established that autism results from genetic and developmental factors rather than parenting styles. The harmful misconceptions promoted by this discredited theory, _____ deserve to be thoroughly rejected by modern practitioners.
Which choice completes the text with the most logical transition?
thus,
for instance,
nonetheless,
in contrast,
Step 1: Decode and Map the Passage
Create Passage Analysis Table
| Text from Passage | Analysis |
|---|---|
| The refrigerator mothers theory attributed childhood autism to emotionally distant parenting and dominated psychological understanding in the 1940s and 1950s. |
|
| Recent neurological research, however, has conclusively established that autism results from genetic and developmental factors rather than parenting styles. |
|
| The harmful misconceptions promoted by this discredited theory, |
|
| deserve to be thoroughly rejected by modern practitioners. |
|
Provide Passage Architecture & Core Elements
Main Point: The discredited refrigerator mothers theory of autism should be thoroughly rejected by modern practitioners because recent research has established genetic and developmental causes.
Argument Flow: The passage establishes an old theory about autism being caused by cold parenting that dominated mid-20th century psychology. It then presents contrasting modern research showing autism has genetic and developmental origins. This leads to the conclusion that the old theory's harmful misconceptions deserve complete rejection.
Step 2: Interpret the Question Precisely
This is a fill-in-the-blank question asking us to choose the best logical connector. The answer must create the right relationship between what comes before and after the blank.
Step 3: Prethink the Answer
- Looking at our analysis, we have: Old theory proven wrong by new research → These misconceptions [BLANK] deserve rejection
- The logical function needed here is to show consequence or result - BECAUSE the research has disproven the old theory, THEREFORE these misconceptions deserve rejection
- We need a transition that signals logical consequence or conclusion
thus,
- Thus signals logical consequence - the misconceptions deserve rejection as a direct result of the research disproving them
- Perfectly matches our prethinking by connecting the cause (research findings) to the effect (need for rejection)
for instance,
- For instance introduces an example or illustration
- Doesn't fit because we're not providing an example - we're stating what should happen as a result of the research
nonetheless,
- Nonetheless signals contrast despite something
- Doesn't fit because we're not showing contrast - the rejection actually follows logically from the research
in contrast,
- In contrast signals opposition between two things
- Doesn't fit because we're not comparing the misconceptions to something else - we're stating what should happen to them