In Chris's case, which cognitive process did he most likely use to conclude his parents' concerns were about his safety after an argument?

In Chris's case, which cognitive process did he most likely use to conclude his parents' concerns were about his safety after an argument?

• A. Implicit personality theory
• B. Deductive reasoning
• C. Response inhibition
• D. Theory of the mind

Answer: (D)

Understanding that people have their own beliefs and mental states that drive their actions is the idea being tested. In this scenario, Chris infers that his parents’ concerns come from a belief they hold—that he might be unsafe. That attribution of a specific belief to another person shows theory of mind in action: recognizing that others’ thoughts about a situation guide their behavior, not just reacting to the argument itself. Other ideas don’t fit as well. Implicit personality theory would be guessing about the parents’ general traits from their behavior, rather than understanding their current beliefs about his safety. Deductive reasoning would involve a logical step-by-step derivation from general rules to a conclusion, not the attribution of a mental state to someone else. Response inhibition is about suppressing impulses, not about interpreting others’ thoughts or beliefs.

Understanding that people have their own beliefs and mental states that drive their actions is the idea being tested. In this scenario, Chris infers that his parents’ concerns come from a belief they hold—that he might be unsafe. That attribution of a specific belief to another person shows theory of mind in action: recognizing that others’ thoughts about a situation guide their behavior, not just reacting to the argument itself.

Other ideas don’t fit as well. Implicit personality theory would be guessing about the parents’ general traits from their behavior, rather than understanding their current beliefs about his safety. Deductive reasoning would involve a logical step-by-step derivation from general rules to a conclusion, not the attribution of a mental state to someone else. Response inhibition is about suppressing impulses, not about interpreting others’ thoughts or beliefs.