A psychologist is reluctant to use parents' observations of their children in determining levels of their children's depression. However, parents often insist on being consulted. What is the psychologist likely to find when parents are asked to evaluate

their children's levels of depression?

a. Parents tend to underestimate the extent of depression reported by their children.
b. Parents frequently mistake the symptoms of depression as signs of a developing psychotic process.
c. Parents tend to overreact to minor symptoms and overestimate the severity of the depression.
d. Whenever parents are involved in such data collection, they immediately put themselves in the role of the therapist and begin treatment, often with disastrous results.

Answer: a.