One evening, a man finds himself on a delivery run to the town’s local mental health institution…
As someone with an insatiable curiosity, he can’t help but seize the opportunity to learn something new about the intricacies of psychiatric evaluations.
As he hands over the package to the on-duty doctor, he asks, “So, how exactly do you determine whether or not a patient should be institutionalized?”
“What’s the criterion or the test?”
The doctor, a kindly-looking man with spectacles perched on his nose, looks amused at his question but decides to humor the man…
“Well,” he starts, “our methodology might not be what you’re expecting.”
“You see, we fill up a bathtub until it’s brimming over with water… “
“Then we present the patient with three options: a teaspoon, a teacup, and a bucket.”
“We then proceed to ask him or her to empty the bathtub.”
A light bulb seems to flash in the man’s mind as he thinks he’s grasped the essence of this psychological puzzle…
“Ah, I see where you’re going with this!” he says…
“A normal person would use the bucket because it’s significantly bigger than either the spoon or the teacup… “
“It’s a question of logic!”
To the man’s surprise, the doctor chuckles softly and shakes his head, “Not quite,” says the doctor…
This is stupid, they give you three options then say you’re insane because you didn’t select an option that wasn’t offered. Now if they had simply asked the easiest way to empty the tub and the patient says anything other than pulling the plug then we might have some questions about their mental state.
April 2, 2024 @ 1:54 pm
I agree with Ron!
April 1, 2024 @ 4:54 pm
This is stupid, they give you three options then say you’re insane because you didn’t select an option that wasn’t offered. Now if they had simply asked the easiest way to empty the tub and the patient says anything other than pulling the plug then we might have some questions about their mental state.