Since Its Inception in 1935, Two Trends Have Increased the Cost

question 36

Multiple Choice

Since its inception in 1935, two trends have increased the cost of the Social Security program. One is that the proportion of people who reach age 65 has increased dramatically. What is the other trend?

• A) Due to revisions of the original law, Social Security now represents a primary source of income for many.
• B) The rate of chronic illnesses has been going up since 1935.
• C) People's incomes have been declining since 1935.
• D) People are now saving more money for retirement than ever before.

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Definitions:

Groupthink

A psychological phenomenon that occurs within a group of people when the desire for harmony or conformity results in an irrational or dysfunctional decision-making outcome.

Fundamental Attribution Error

The tendency to overemphasize personal characteristics and ignore situational factors in judging others' behaviors.

Self-Serving Bias

The common tendency to attribute one’s successes to personal characteristics and failures to external factors.

Shock Machine

Often associated with psychological experiments, it refers to a device used to deliver an electric shock to a subject, typically used in studies on obedience, learning, and punishment.