ASWB LMSW Exam Practice Questions with Expert
Solutions
Erik Erikson - Answer known for his 8-stage theory of psychosocial development focusing on resolving
successive identity crises
Basic Trust Vs Mistrust (Erikson) - Answer infants learn trust and develop a sense of safety through the
consistency of the caregiver meeting their needs (birth to one year)
Autonomy Vs Shame & Doubt (Erikson) - Answer toddlers learn to do things for themselves through
encouragement and support (1-3 years)
Initiative Vs Guilt (Erikson) - Answer preschoolers learn to initiate tasks and carry out plans or they feel
guilty about their efforts at independence (3-6 years)
Industry Vs Inferiority (Erikson) - Answer school-age children learn the pleasure of applying oneself to a
task, or they feel inferior (6-12 years)
Identity Vs Role Confusion (Erikson) - Answer teenagers develop a sense of self by testing roles and then
integrating them to form a single identity, or they become confused about who they are (12-20 years)
Intimacy Vs Isolation (Erikson) - Answer young adults work on forming and maintaining intimate
relationships or they feel socially isolated (20-25 years)
Generativity Vs Stagnation (Erikson) - Answer middle-aged adults discover a sense of contributing
through family or work, or they may feel a lack of purpose (25-65 years)
Ego Integrity Vs Despair (Erikson) - Answer older adults reflect on satisfaction with their lives or feel a
sense of failure (65 years to death)
Social Development - Micro - Answer learning how to behave and interact well with others; learning
how to manage feelings in a way that is productive rather than counterproductive
,Social Development - Macro - Answer learning how people interact in groups and society (family,
community), especially in regards to social norms, institutional change, and inclusion
Emotional Development - Answer learning self-awareness, self-regulation, social skills, cooperation,
attention, transitioning from one activity to another, self-confidence, forming and maintaining
relationships
Six Levels of Cognition - Answer knowledge, comprehension, application, analysis, synthesis, evaluation
(KCAASE)
Knowledge - Answer rote memorization, recognition, recall of facts (1st level of cognition)
Comprehension - Answer understanding what facts mean (2nd level of cognition)
Application - Answer correct use of facts, rules, or ideas (3rd level of cognition)
Analysis - Answer breaking information down into its component parts (4th level of cognition)
Synthesis - Answer combination of facts, ideas, or information to make a new whole (5th level of
cognition)
Evaluation - Answer judging or forming an opinion about the information or situation (6th level of
cognition)
Jean Piaget - Answer known for his 4-stage theory of cognitive development in children
Sensorimotor Stage (Piaget) - Answer infants and young toddlers explore using the senses and learn
object permanence (birth to 2 years)
Preoperational Stage (Piaget) - Answer young children engage in symbolic thinking (pretend play and
imaginary friends) and concrete, egocentric thinking (2-7 years)
,Concrete Operations Stage (Piaget) - Answer school-age children engage in logical thinking,
understanding rules and cause-effect relationships (7-11 years)
Formal Operations Stage (Piaget) - Answer by puberty, people are able to engage in abstract
hypothetical thinking, plan for the future, and test hypotheses (11 years through adulthood)
Lawrence Kohlberg - Answer known for his theory of stages of moral development
Preconventional Morality (Kohlberg) - Answer obeys authority out of fear of punishment; acts in own
best interests; conforms to receive rewards (childhood)
Conventional Morality (Kohlberg) - Answer acts to gain approval from others; obeys laws and fulfills
obligations to maintain social system; avoids censure and guilt (adolescents & most adults)
Postconventional Morality (Kohlberg) - Answer genuine interest in others' welfare; concerned with
individual rights and being morally right; guided by principles and concerns based on broad, universal
ethics and morality (some adults)
Learning Theory - Behaviorism - Answer learning is viewed through change in behavior and the stimuli in
the external environment are the locus of learning; change the external environment and change
behavior
Learning Theory - Cognitive Theory - Answer learning is viewed through internal mental processes
(insight, information processing, memory, perception) and the locus of learning is internal cognitive
structures; develop opportunities to foster capacity and skills to improve learning
Learning Theory - Humanism - Answer learning is viewed as a person's activities aimed at reaching his or
her full potential, and the locus of learning is in meeting cognitive and other needs; develop the whole
person
Learning Theory - Social Theory - Answer learning is obtained between people and their environment--
their interactions and observations in social contexts; establish opportunities for conversation and
participation
, Respondent Behavior (Behaviorism) - Answer involuntary behavior (anxiety, sexual response) that is
automatically elicited by certain behavior. A stimulus elicits a response.
Operant Behavior (Behaviorism) - Answer voluntary behavior (walking, talking) that is controlled by its
consequences in the environment
Classical Conditioning - Answer learning to associate an involuntary response and a stimulus (Pavlov's
dogs develop the expectation that they will be fed when a bell rings)
Operant Conditioning - Answer learning to associate a voluntary response with a consequence (Skinner's
rats develop the expectation that they will get food by pressing a lever)
Best known applications of behavior modification - Answer sexual dysfunction, phobic disorders,
compulsive behaviors (overeating, smoking), and training for people with intellectual disabilities or
Autism Spectrum Disorder
Behavioral theories suggest that personality is a result of... - Answer interaction between the individual
and the environment
Behavioral theories focus on... - Answer observable and measurable behaviors rather than internal
thoughts and feelings
advantages of client self-monitoring (Behaviorism) - Answer inexpensive, practical, therapeutic
disadvantages of client self-monitoring (Behaviorism) - Answer clients collecting inadequate/inaccurate
information or resisting to collect any at all
Positive Reinforcement (Operant Technique) - Answer increases probability that behavior will occur:
praise, giving tokens, or otherwise rewarding positive behavior
Negative Reinforcement (Operant Technique) - Answer behavior increases because a negative/aversive
stimulus is removed (i.e., remove shock)
Solutions
Erik Erikson - Answer known for his 8-stage theory of psychosocial development focusing on resolving
successive identity crises
Basic Trust Vs Mistrust (Erikson) - Answer infants learn trust and develop a sense of safety through the
consistency of the caregiver meeting their needs (birth to one year)
Autonomy Vs Shame & Doubt (Erikson) - Answer toddlers learn to do things for themselves through
encouragement and support (1-3 years)
Initiative Vs Guilt (Erikson) - Answer preschoolers learn to initiate tasks and carry out plans or they feel
guilty about their efforts at independence (3-6 years)
Industry Vs Inferiority (Erikson) - Answer school-age children learn the pleasure of applying oneself to a
task, or they feel inferior (6-12 years)
Identity Vs Role Confusion (Erikson) - Answer teenagers develop a sense of self by testing roles and then
integrating them to form a single identity, or they become confused about who they are (12-20 years)
Intimacy Vs Isolation (Erikson) - Answer young adults work on forming and maintaining intimate
relationships or they feel socially isolated (20-25 years)
Generativity Vs Stagnation (Erikson) - Answer middle-aged adults discover a sense of contributing
through family or work, or they may feel a lack of purpose (25-65 years)
Ego Integrity Vs Despair (Erikson) - Answer older adults reflect on satisfaction with their lives or feel a
sense of failure (65 years to death)
Social Development - Micro - Answer learning how to behave and interact well with others; learning
how to manage feelings in a way that is productive rather than counterproductive
,Social Development - Macro - Answer learning how people interact in groups and society (family,
community), especially in regards to social norms, institutional change, and inclusion
Emotional Development - Answer learning self-awareness, self-regulation, social skills, cooperation,
attention, transitioning from one activity to another, self-confidence, forming and maintaining
relationships
Six Levels of Cognition - Answer knowledge, comprehension, application, analysis, synthesis, evaluation
(KCAASE)
Knowledge - Answer rote memorization, recognition, recall of facts (1st level of cognition)
Comprehension - Answer understanding what facts mean (2nd level of cognition)
Application - Answer correct use of facts, rules, or ideas (3rd level of cognition)
Analysis - Answer breaking information down into its component parts (4th level of cognition)
Synthesis - Answer combination of facts, ideas, or information to make a new whole (5th level of
cognition)
Evaluation - Answer judging or forming an opinion about the information or situation (6th level of
cognition)
Jean Piaget - Answer known for his 4-stage theory of cognitive development in children
Sensorimotor Stage (Piaget) - Answer infants and young toddlers explore using the senses and learn
object permanence (birth to 2 years)
Preoperational Stage (Piaget) - Answer young children engage in symbolic thinking (pretend play and
imaginary friends) and concrete, egocentric thinking (2-7 years)
,Concrete Operations Stage (Piaget) - Answer school-age children engage in logical thinking,
understanding rules and cause-effect relationships (7-11 years)
Formal Operations Stage (Piaget) - Answer by puberty, people are able to engage in abstract
hypothetical thinking, plan for the future, and test hypotheses (11 years through adulthood)
Lawrence Kohlberg - Answer known for his theory of stages of moral development
Preconventional Morality (Kohlberg) - Answer obeys authority out of fear of punishment; acts in own
best interests; conforms to receive rewards (childhood)
Conventional Morality (Kohlberg) - Answer acts to gain approval from others; obeys laws and fulfills
obligations to maintain social system; avoids censure and guilt (adolescents & most adults)
Postconventional Morality (Kohlberg) - Answer genuine interest in others' welfare; concerned with
individual rights and being morally right; guided by principles and concerns based on broad, universal
ethics and morality (some adults)
Learning Theory - Behaviorism - Answer learning is viewed through change in behavior and the stimuli in
the external environment are the locus of learning; change the external environment and change
behavior
Learning Theory - Cognitive Theory - Answer learning is viewed through internal mental processes
(insight, information processing, memory, perception) and the locus of learning is internal cognitive
structures; develop opportunities to foster capacity and skills to improve learning
Learning Theory - Humanism - Answer learning is viewed as a person's activities aimed at reaching his or
her full potential, and the locus of learning is in meeting cognitive and other needs; develop the whole
person
Learning Theory - Social Theory - Answer learning is obtained between people and their environment--
their interactions and observations in social contexts; establish opportunities for conversation and
participation
, Respondent Behavior (Behaviorism) - Answer involuntary behavior (anxiety, sexual response) that is
automatically elicited by certain behavior. A stimulus elicits a response.
Operant Behavior (Behaviorism) - Answer voluntary behavior (walking, talking) that is controlled by its
consequences in the environment
Classical Conditioning - Answer learning to associate an involuntary response and a stimulus (Pavlov's
dogs develop the expectation that they will be fed when a bell rings)
Operant Conditioning - Answer learning to associate a voluntary response with a consequence (Skinner's
rats develop the expectation that they will get food by pressing a lever)
Best known applications of behavior modification - Answer sexual dysfunction, phobic disorders,
compulsive behaviors (overeating, smoking), and training for people with intellectual disabilities or
Autism Spectrum Disorder
Behavioral theories suggest that personality is a result of... - Answer interaction between the individual
and the environment
Behavioral theories focus on... - Answer observable and measurable behaviors rather than internal
thoughts and feelings
advantages of client self-monitoring (Behaviorism) - Answer inexpensive, practical, therapeutic
disadvantages of client self-monitoring (Behaviorism) - Answer clients collecting inadequate/inaccurate
information or resisting to collect any at all
Positive Reinforcement (Operant Technique) - Answer increases probability that behavior will occur:
praise, giving tokens, or otherwise rewarding positive behavior
Negative Reinforcement (Operant Technique) - Answer behavior increases because a negative/aversive
stimulus is removed (i.e., remove shock)
