Complete ASWB LCSW Exam Prep – 2025 – study guide and practice
questions with answers
Considered the most primitive, Internalizing outside influences as your own identity. (focus on
identity, commonly seen in adolescents)
Examples:
-in severe depression- hatred turns toward self
-A child takes on their parent's words, characteristics, or beliefs as their own to maintain
connection
-a trauma survivor takes on a victim identity
-a kid "channels" his big brother's characteristics to stand up to a bully
-kid internalizes ideas of someone else - "I cant cry it's weak."
opposite of projection - correct answer ✔✔What is "Introjection" as a defense mechanism?
OCPD - a personality disorder characterized by preoccupation with orderliness, perfection,
rigidness, and control
never satisfied with achievements
ex: Steve Jobs - correct answer ✔✔obsessive-compulsive personality disorder
Impulse-control disorder with repeated episodes of unpredictable, impulsive, uncontrollable
(not pre-meditated) aggression in which client strikes out at others or destroys property. Failure
to restrain aggressive impulses, and response is disproportionate to the situation. Can manifest
through arguments, temper tantrums, verbal/physical aggression.
Not persistently irritable mood and can be present for adults. More severe than ODD.
,Dx if at least 6+ yrs old, and "explosion" occurs 2 or more times a week for at least 3 months
(OR child has had 3 incidents of impulsive/uncontrollable physical injury/property destruction in
the last year) - correct answer ✔✔Intermittent Explosive Disorder (IED)
a pattern of repetitive behavior in which the rights of others or social norms are violated.
Bullying, intimidating, truancy, lack of remorse or empathy, premeditated harmful behaviors,
theft, aggression toward people or animals, destruction of property, theft, serious transgression
of rules
Occuring within a 1-year period (with at least one symptom present for 6 months straight), and
onset before age 13.
Leads to antisocial personality disorder after 18. - correct answer ✔✔Conduct Disorder (CD)
a depressive disorder in children characterized by persistent irritability and frequent episodes of
out-of-control behavior. Involves severe, recurrent temper outbursts with a persistent/chornic
irritable and angry mood between outbursts on most days.
Lasting at least 1 year with no more than 3 month periods between symptom episodes
On average, outbursts occur 3+ times/wk
Age of onset before 10 yrs
Diagnosed between 6-18 yrs - correct answer ✔✔Disruptive Mood Dysregulation Disorder
(DMDD)
knowledge, skills, and abilities - correct answer ✔✔What does KSA stand for?
1. Engagement
2. Assessment
3. Planning
4. Intervention
5. Evaluation
,6. Termination - correct answer ✔✔What is the order of the Social Work process? (6)
1. Individual Characteristics
2. Interpersonal Factors
3. Institutional Factors
4. Community Factors
5. Public Policy - correct answer ✔✔What factors influence people and their behaviors in a
social environment? (5)
Knowledge, experiences, attitudes, beliefs, and personality, unique to each client - correct
answer ✔✔What are individual characteristics?
Social support, work relationships, friendships, and religious community - correct answer
✔✔What are interpersonal factors?
Rules, regulations, and informal structures in the organizations client is involved with
(smoking, dress expectations, rules around social interactions) - correct answer ✔✔What are
institutional factors?
Formal and informal norms and expectations based on the social environment where a client
lives - correct answer ✔✔What are community factors?
Mandated regulations and laws, typically by a government
(wearing seat belts, not using drugs, limits on physical aggression, etc) - correct answer
✔✔What are public policies?
, 1. Systems Theory
2. Conflict Theory
3. Rational Choice Theory
4. Social Constructionist Theory
5. Psychodynamic Theory
6. Developmental Theory
7. Social Behavioral Theory
8. Humanistic Perspective - correct answer ✔✔What are the most common theoretical
perspectives that help explain human behavior? (8)
Multiple parts in an environment are interrelated where each part impacts all other parts as
well as the system as a whole. - correct answer ✔✔Systems Theory
The idea that conflict between competing interests, resources, and power is the basic
motivating force of social change and society in general - correct answer ✔✔Conflict Theory
By nature, people are rationale and goal oriented and will try to maximize rewards and minimize
costs. Behavior is explained when viewed through self-interest. - correct answer ✔✔Rational
Choice Theory
Social reality is created when clients develop a common understanding of their world through
social interaction. They are influenced by social processes that are grounded in customs, as well
as cultural and historical contexts.
(BLM, Nationalists, Native American, etc.) - correct answer ✔✔Social Constructionist Theory
Human behavior is motivated by conscious and unconscious mental activity where experiences,
particularly in developmental years, are central. Defense mechanisms are used to avoid being
overwhelmed. - correct answer ✔✔Psychodynamic Theory
questions with answers
Considered the most primitive, Internalizing outside influences as your own identity. (focus on
identity, commonly seen in adolescents)
Examples:
-in severe depression- hatred turns toward self
-A child takes on their parent's words, characteristics, or beliefs as their own to maintain
connection
-a trauma survivor takes on a victim identity
-a kid "channels" his big brother's characteristics to stand up to a bully
-kid internalizes ideas of someone else - "I cant cry it's weak."
opposite of projection - correct answer ✔✔What is "Introjection" as a defense mechanism?
OCPD - a personality disorder characterized by preoccupation with orderliness, perfection,
rigidness, and control
never satisfied with achievements
ex: Steve Jobs - correct answer ✔✔obsessive-compulsive personality disorder
Impulse-control disorder with repeated episodes of unpredictable, impulsive, uncontrollable
(not pre-meditated) aggression in which client strikes out at others or destroys property. Failure
to restrain aggressive impulses, and response is disproportionate to the situation. Can manifest
through arguments, temper tantrums, verbal/physical aggression.
Not persistently irritable mood and can be present for adults. More severe than ODD.
,Dx if at least 6+ yrs old, and "explosion" occurs 2 or more times a week for at least 3 months
(OR child has had 3 incidents of impulsive/uncontrollable physical injury/property destruction in
the last year) - correct answer ✔✔Intermittent Explosive Disorder (IED)
a pattern of repetitive behavior in which the rights of others or social norms are violated.
Bullying, intimidating, truancy, lack of remorse or empathy, premeditated harmful behaviors,
theft, aggression toward people or animals, destruction of property, theft, serious transgression
of rules
Occuring within a 1-year period (with at least one symptom present for 6 months straight), and
onset before age 13.
Leads to antisocial personality disorder after 18. - correct answer ✔✔Conduct Disorder (CD)
a depressive disorder in children characterized by persistent irritability and frequent episodes of
out-of-control behavior. Involves severe, recurrent temper outbursts with a persistent/chornic
irritable and angry mood between outbursts on most days.
Lasting at least 1 year with no more than 3 month periods between symptom episodes
On average, outbursts occur 3+ times/wk
Age of onset before 10 yrs
Diagnosed between 6-18 yrs - correct answer ✔✔Disruptive Mood Dysregulation Disorder
(DMDD)
knowledge, skills, and abilities - correct answer ✔✔What does KSA stand for?
1. Engagement
2. Assessment
3. Planning
4. Intervention
5. Evaluation
,6. Termination - correct answer ✔✔What is the order of the Social Work process? (6)
1. Individual Characteristics
2. Interpersonal Factors
3. Institutional Factors
4. Community Factors
5. Public Policy - correct answer ✔✔What factors influence people and their behaviors in a
social environment? (5)
Knowledge, experiences, attitudes, beliefs, and personality, unique to each client - correct
answer ✔✔What are individual characteristics?
Social support, work relationships, friendships, and religious community - correct answer
✔✔What are interpersonal factors?
Rules, regulations, and informal structures in the organizations client is involved with
(smoking, dress expectations, rules around social interactions) - correct answer ✔✔What are
institutional factors?
Formal and informal norms and expectations based on the social environment where a client
lives - correct answer ✔✔What are community factors?
Mandated regulations and laws, typically by a government
(wearing seat belts, not using drugs, limits on physical aggression, etc) - correct answer
✔✔What are public policies?
, 1. Systems Theory
2. Conflict Theory
3. Rational Choice Theory
4. Social Constructionist Theory
5. Psychodynamic Theory
6. Developmental Theory
7. Social Behavioral Theory
8. Humanistic Perspective - correct answer ✔✔What are the most common theoretical
perspectives that help explain human behavior? (8)
Multiple parts in an environment are interrelated where each part impacts all other parts as
well as the system as a whole. - correct answer ✔✔Systems Theory
The idea that conflict between competing interests, resources, and power is the basic
motivating force of social change and society in general - correct answer ✔✔Conflict Theory
By nature, people are rationale and goal oriented and will try to maximize rewards and minimize
costs. Behavior is explained when viewed through self-interest. - correct answer ✔✔Rational
Choice Theory
Social reality is created when clients develop a common understanding of their world through
social interaction. They are influenced by social processes that are grounded in customs, as well
as cultural and historical contexts.
(BLM, Nationalists, Native American, etc.) - correct answer ✔✔Social Constructionist Theory
Human behavior is motivated by conscious and unconscious mental activity where experiences,
particularly in developmental years, are central. Defense mechanisms are used to avoid being
overwhelmed. - correct answer ✔✔Psychodynamic Theory
