Which of the following represents reification of the construct 'luck'?

Question

BlackTom AI · Accepted Answer

Reification is treating an abstract construct as if it were a concrete, material thing that can be measured, moved, or transferred. Constructs like "luck" belong to the class of hypothetical, abstract variables in psychology and social science; they summarize patterns of events or beliefs rather than existing as physical entities.

Step-by-step reasoning:
1. Define the construct: "Luck" is an abstract concept representing chance, fortune, or perceived favorability in outcomes. It is not a physical substance or an empirically observable object.
2. Define reification: When we speak of a construct as though it has material existence or independent causal agency (for example, saying it can be passed, carried, or exchanged), we commit the reification fallacy.
3. Apply to the statement: "Luck can be transmitted over the internet." This sentence presumes that luck is a transferable commodity or substance that can be sent from one location to another via a communication medium. That treats luck as a concrete thing with properties (transmissibility, location, transfer mechanism) that it does not have as an abstract construct.
4. Conclude why this is reification: The statement converts an abstract property (luck) into a tangible entity capable of physical transfer, which is the textbook example of reification.

Why this is correct: The statement attributes physical transferability to an abstract construct; that is precisely what reification entails. It implies mechanisms and measurement possibilities that do not apply to the abstract notion of luck.

Why other (non-reification) phrasings would be incorrect as reification examples: Sentences such as "She is lucky" (a descriptive attribution), "Lucky people may take different risks" (a causal or correlational claim), or "People perceive themselves as lucky" (a subjective report) treat luck as a descriptor or variable, not as a transferable object; these do not reify the construct.

Final confirmation: Therefore, the correct answer is "Luck can be transmitted over the internet," which matches the provided answer.

Which of the following represents reification of the construct 'luck'?Single choice

Similar Questions

A delivery lag occurs because it takes a while for:

Which is true?

In this unit, "decoupling" has been used to refer to which of the following?

What is the conclusions of the following argument? “I need to get a flu shot. If you want to decrease your chances of getting the flu, then you need to get the shot. I can’t afford to get sick this year.”

Which of the following best illustrates how context can influence responses to survey questions?

Two parties have a dispute valued at USD 3.5 million under a contract with an ICC arbitration clause. The claimant wants to use the ICC Expedited Procedure to reduce time and cost. Under the 2026 ICC Rules revision (effective 1 June 2026), does this dispute qualify for the Expedited Procedure?

Firm A does not export any of its products Firm B exports the majority of its products. Firm B has:

More Practical Tools for Students Powered by AI Study Helper

Homework AI Solver

Stylized AI Paper Writer

Plagiarism Checker Assistant

Citation AI Academic Writing Tool

In-Class Translation Assistant

AI Note Generator

AI Quiz Answers

Past Exam Questions from University Test Bank

Smart Practice Assistant

Adaptive Practice

Making Your Study Simpler