Definition:
Presupposition traps are questions or statements that assume a contested fact as already true, forcing respondents to implicitly accept that assumption in order to answer.
Usage Context:
Seen in interviews, assessments, surveys, media questioning, customer service interactions, and bureaucratic processes.
Critical Note:
Presupposition traps restrict reality by collapsing debate before it begins. They function as linguistic shortcuts that convert assumption into fact, shifting the burden of correction onto those with less power.
Related Terms:
Loaded Questions, Quiet Assumptions, Burden Reversal