CLEP Intro to Psychology Exam Prep

Answer: D - Juries are deciding if William A., who struck and killed a 10-year old while drinking and driving should go to jail for the rest of his life. To reach this decision, they are engaging in dialectical reasoning for and against a life sentence.
Key Takeaway: Dialectical reasoning is one where people who have different opinions try to persuade one another. Some of the jury members may believe that William A. should go to prison but not necessarily for the rest of his life. Others may believe that he should serve a long prison term of life. Some of the jury members may disagree with both of these opinions and believe that he should serve a medium term of about 5 or 10 years but also pay a compensation for the parent. In the end, the juries must agree on whether he should go to jail for the rest of his life. If they don’t, the judge may take action on their behalf and reach a decision.