Loaded Question Fallacy
Also known as: Complex Question, Trick Question
What is Loaded Question?
A loaded question is a question that contains a presupposition or assumption that has not been established or agreed upon. Any direct answer to the question implicitly accepts the hidden assumption, trapping the respondent. The classic example is 'Have you stopped beating your wife?' — answering either 'yes' or 'no' accepts the assumption that beating occurred. Loaded questions are a form of framing that forces acceptance of a premise through the structure of the question itself.
Example
A job interview where the interviewer asks an unfair question.
“Why does your current employer have such a high turnover rate?”
The question assumes the employer has a high turnover rate, which may not be true. Answering the question directly accepts this unproven premise. The respondent is put in a position where any direct answer validates the assumption.
How to Spot It
- The question contains an assumption that you have not agreed to.
- Answering 'yes' or 'no' both seem to accept something you do not believe is true.
- The question is structured to make you defend or explain something that has not been established.
- You feel trapped by the question — any direct answer seems to work against you.
How to Counter It
- Challenge the assumption before answering: 'I don't accept the premise of that question.'
- Break the question into its components and address the assumption separately.
- Reframe the question without the loaded assumption and answer that version instead.
- Explicitly state the hidden assumption: 'That question assumes X, which I haven't agreed to.'
Related Fallacies
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