Text 1: Anthropologist Dr. Jennifer Wu studies ritual efficacy. "Rituals produce real psychological effects through symbolic action," Wu writes. "Healing ceremonies reduce anxiety and pain even without biomedical mechanisms. Meaning-making is therapeutically powerful."
Text 2: Medical ethicist Dr. Paul Brown raises concerns. "Attributing therapeutic power to meaning risks devaluing biomedical treatment," Brown cautions. "Patients might delay effective treatment for rituals. Symbolic healing complements medicine but shouldn't substitute for it."
What potential misapplication of Wu's research does Brown identify?
That rituals have no psychological effects
That validating ritual efficacy might lead to rejecting biomedical treatment
That anthropology cannot study ceremonies
That meaning-making never occurs
Correct Answer: B
Choice B is the correct answer. Brown worries Wu's work might encourage "delay[ing] effective treatment for rituals." Validating symbolic healing could lead people to reject biomedical options.
- Evidence: Brown: rituals "shouldn't substitute" for medicine.
- Reasoning: Affirming ritual power risks overextending its scope.
- Conclusion: Patients might misapply Wu's insights harmfully.
Choice A is incorrect because Brown allows rituals "complement" medicine. Choice C is incorrect because Brown doesn't question anthropology. Choice D is incorrect because Brown accepts meaning-making's power.