Suppose a parent paid your college tuition this year. He or she wants you to get a summer job so you can contribute next year. You would prefer to spend your time with friends at the beach. Your parent says, “There’s no way I’ll pay for everything next year. If you don’t get a job, you’ll have to take a semester off."
Are you likely to take this threat seriously and get a job? Explain why or why not. Answer this question under two different assumptions:
a. You are an only child.
b. You are the oldest of 10 children.