Affirming the Consequent -- a formal fallacy which occurs in a conditional (If/then statement) when we assume that if the then part of the statement (consequent) is true than the if part of the statement (antecedent) must be true as well.

Logical Form:

If P then Q.

Q.

Therefore, P.

Example: If I get paid today, I will go to the movies. I went to the movies. Therefore I must have gotten paid.

When we affirm the consequent, we mistake of assuming that if the then part of an if/then statement (consequent) is true it must be the case that the if part of the statement (antecedent) is true as well. However, unless the phrase if and only if occurs a consequent can be achieved in more than one way. Therefore, we cannot assume that because the consequent is true the antecedent must be true as well. In our example, I might have gone to the movies because someone lent me the money or bought my ticket. The fact that I went to the movies doesnt necessarily mean I got paid.

Workplace Scenarios:

1. If we get the Chapman account, we will hire additional staff. Yesterday we hired additional staff. We must have gotten the Chapman account.
2. If we are friends on social media, we must be friends in real life. We are friends in real life. Therefore, we are friends on social media.
3. If a patient exercises regularly, he will lose weight. My patient lost weight. He must exercise regularly.
4. If I change my major, I wont graduate on time. I didnt graduate on time. I must have changed my major.
5. You may choose your own work place scenario but it must follow the pattern given above.