Howdy! Maybe she considered the 'other one' to be obviously 'for the occasion'...

As far as 'inducing apparent criticism' is concerned... maybe yes, and... maybe no. In the example you site, autolycus, she gives him two shirts, and he can't wear them both... so he's in a 'no win' situation... and she's 'set it up'.

Looks to me as if she may be being 'set up'... and then is criticised in the form of a joke. Humor can be such an insidious weapon. So... she gives him two shirts... one is a dress shirt, and the other is a Metalica T-shirt... hard for her to buy in the first place, and not exactly appropriate at the family christmas dinner...

In this case, the omission of the mother's feelings have been effective... and she takes 'the blame'... and... everyone laughs at her too.

seewhatimean?

BTW... what the heck is a 'therapy trainer'?
ttr