Final answer:
The scenario of a psychologist examining the causes of a patient's fear of heights represents the goal of explanation in psychology. T
Step-by-step explanation:
The goal of psychology represented by a psychologist examining the possible causes for a patient's fear of heights is C. explanation. The psychologist is not merely describing the fear (description), predicting future instances of the fear (prediction), or attempting to influence the fear (influence). Rather, the psychologist is seeking to understand the underlying causes and mechanisms behind the patient's fear, which aligns with the goal of explanation.
Similarly, in an experimental context, when a researcher administers a placebo, they are typically attempting to control for participant expectation in order to isolate the effect of the treatment or variable under investigation. In this case, the placeholder is used to mimic the effects of an intervention without including the active ingredient, and is integral in double-blind experimental designs to improve the validity of the results.