Research is reported showing that people who abuse substances are more likely to physically abuse their spouses than those who do not abuse substances. Further investigation reveals that substance abuse leads to less consideration for the abuser's spouse, which in turn leads to more physical abuse. In this instance, consideration for the abuser's spouse is ______.
A) an extraneous variable that creates a spurious relationship between substance abuse and spouse abuse
B) an intervening variable that makes up the causal mechanism connecting substance abuse and spouse abuse
C) the variable that conceptualizes this causal process leading from substance abuse to spouse abuse
D) irrelevant to the establishment of a causal connection between substance abuse and spouse abuse

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The correct answer is B because consideration for the abuser's spouse acts as an intervening variable that explains how substance abuse leads to more physical abuse, thus making up the causal mechanism connecting the two.

Research Is Reported Showing That People Who Abuse Substances Are