Which concept describes that a large number of people at low risk may generate more cases than a small number of high-risk individuals?

• A. Prevention paradox
• B. Problem behavioral theory
• C. Psychodynamic psychotherapy
• D. Rapid detox

Answer: (A)

This item tests the prevention paradox: the idea that many people with low individual risk can together account for more cases than a few people who are at high risk. Although a high-risk person has a greater chance of developing the problem, there are far fewer of them. On the other hand, there are many more people with only small risks, and when you add up their modest chances across a large group, they can produce more total cases. This helps explain why broad, population-wide prevention efforts—aimed at reducing risk for everyone—can have a larger impact on overall incidence than strategies that focus only on the high-risk subgroup. The other options aren’t about how risk is distributed across a whole population or about reducing cases through universal measures.