MSW EXAM 2025 QUESTIONS AND
ANSWERS
Systems Theory - ANS A system is a whole comprising component parts that work together.
Applied to social work, systems theory views human behavior through larger contexts, such as
members of families, communities, and broader society. Important to this theory is the concept
that when one thing changes within a system, the whole system is affected. Systems tend
toward equilibrium and can have closed or open boundaries.
Apgar PhD LSW ACSW, Dr. Dawn (2015-05-11). Social Work ASWB Masters Exam Guide: A
Comprehensive Study Guide for Success (p. 43). Springer Publishing Company. Kindle Edition.
Systems Theory Applications to Social Work - ANS 1. Social workers need to understand
interactions between the micro, meso, and macro levels.
2. Problems at one part of a system may be manifested at another.
3. Ecomaps and genograms can help to understand system dynamics.
4. Understanding "person-in-environment" is essential to identifying barriers or opportunities
for change.
5. Problems and change are viewed within larger contexts.
Apgar PhD LSW ACSW, Dr. Dawn (2015-05-11). Social Work ASWB Masters Exam Guide: A
Comprehensive Study Guide for Success (pp. 43-44). Springer Publishing Company. Kindle
Edition.
Some System Theory Terms - ANS Closed system- uses up its energy and dies
COPYRIGHT © 2025 THESTAR ALL RIGHTS RESERVED 1
,Differentiation- becoming specialized in structure and function
Entropy- closed, disorganized, stagnant; using up available energy
Equifinality- arriving at the same end from different beginnings
homeostasis steady state
Input- obtaining resources from the environment that are necessary to attain the goals of the
system
Negative entropy- exchange of energy and resources between systems that promote growth
and transformation
Open system a system with cross-boundary exchange
Output- product of the system that exports to the environment
Subsystem- a major component of a system made up of two or more interdependent
components that interact in order to attain their own purpose( s) and the purpose( s) of the
system in which they are embedded
Suprasystem- an entity that is served by a number of component systems organized in
interacting relationships throughput energy that is integrated into the system so it can be used
by the system to accomplish its goals
Apgar PhD LSW ACSW, Dr. Dawn (2015-05-11). Social Work ASWB Masters Exam Guide: A
Comprehensive Study Guide for Success (p. 44). Springer Publishing Company. Kindle Edition.
The eight interlocking concepts of Bowen Theory include: - ANS 1) Differentiation of Self
2) Triangles
3) Nuclear Family Emotional Process
4) Family Projection Process
5) Emotional Cutoff
6) Multigenerational Transmission Process
7) Sibling Position
8) Societal Emotional Process.
COPYRIGHT © 2025 THESTAR ALL RIGHTS RESERVED 2
,FAMILY THEORIES - ANS Family theory provides a theoretical and therapeutic base for
dealing with family-related situations; it is also useful in understanding and managing individual
problems by determining the extent to which such problems are related to family issues. A
family systems approach argues that in order to understand a family system, a social worker
must look at the family as a whole, rather than focusing on its members. People do not exist in
a vacuum. They live, play, go to school, and work with other people. Most anthropologists
agree that, next to their peculiar tendency to think and use tools, one of the distinguishing
characteristics of human beings is that they are social creatures. The social group that seems to
be most universal and pervasive in the way it shapes human behavior is the family. For social
workers, the growing awareness of the crucial impact of families on clients has led to the
development of family systems theory. Family systems theory searches for the causes of
behavior, not in the individual alone, but in the interactions among the members of a group.
The basic rationale is that all parts of the family are interrelated. Further, the family has
properties of its own that can be known only by looking at the relationships and interactions
among all members.
Apgar PhD LSW ACSW, Dr. Dawn (2015-05-11). Social Work ASWB Masters Exam Guide: A
Comprehensive Study Guide for Success (pp. 44-45). Springer Publishing Company. Kindle
Edition.
The family systems approach is based on several basic assumptions: - ANS 1. Each family is
more than a sum of its members.
2. Each family is unique, due to the infinite variations in personal characteristics and cultural
and ideological styles.
3. A healthy family has flexibility, consistent structure, and effective exchange of information.
4. The family is an interactional system whose component parts have constantly shifting
boundaries and varying degrees of resistance to change.
5. Families must fulfill a variety of functions for each member, both collectively and individually,
if each member is to grow and develop.
6. Families strive for a sense of balance or homeostasis.
7. Negative feedback loops are those patterns of interaction that maintain stability or constancy
while minimizing change. Negative feedback loops help to maintain homeostasis. Positive
feedback loops, in contrast, are patterns of interaction that facilitate change or movement
toward either growth or dissolution.
COPYRIGHT © 2025 THESTAR ALL RIGHTS RESERVED 3
, 8. Families are seen as being goal oriented. The concept of equifinality refers to the ability of
the family system to accomplish the same goals through different routes.
9. The concept of hierarchies describes how families organize themselves into various smaller
units or subsystems that are comprised by the larger family system. When the members or
tasks associated with each subsystem become blurred with those of other subsystems, families
have been viewed as having difficulties. For example, when a child becomes involved in marital
issues, difficulties often emerge that require intervention.
10. Boundaries occur at every level of the system and between subsystems. Boundaries
influence the movement of people and the flow of information into and out of the system.
Some families have very open boundaries where members and others are allowed to freely
come and go without much restriction; in other famil
The family systems Key clinical issues include: - ANS -Establishing a contract with the family
-Examining alliances within the family
-Identifying where power resides
-Determining the relationship of each family member to the problem
-Seeing how the family relates to the outside world
-Assessing influence of family history on current family interactions
-Ascertaining communication patterns
-Identifying family rules that regulate patterns of interaction
-Determining meaning of presenting symptom in maintaining family homeostasis
-Examining flexibility of structure and accessibility of alternative action patterns
-Finding out about sources of external stress and support The following are some types of
family therapy.
Apgar PhD LSW ACSW, Dr. Dawn (2015-05-11). Social Work ASWB Masters Exam Guide: A
Comprehensive Study Guide for Success (p. 46). Springer Publishing Company. Kindle Edition.
The stages of group development are: - ANS 1. Preaffiliation— development of trust (known
as forming)
COPYRIGHT © 2025 THESTAR ALL RIGHTS RESERVED 4
ANSWERS
Systems Theory - ANS A system is a whole comprising component parts that work together.
Applied to social work, systems theory views human behavior through larger contexts, such as
members of families, communities, and broader society. Important to this theory is the concept
that when one thing changes within a system, the whole system is affected. Systems tend
toward equilibrium and can have closed or open boundaries.
Apgar PhD LSW ACSW, Dr. Dawn (2015-05-11). Social Work ASWB Masters Exam Guide: A
Comprehensive Study Guide for Success (p. 43). Springer Publishing Company. Kindle Edition.
Systems Theory Applications to Social Work - ANS 1. Social workers need to understand
interactions between the micro, meso, and macro levels.
2. Problems at one part of a system may be manifested at another.
3. Ecomaps and genograms can help to understand system dynamics.
4. Understanding "person-in-environment" is essential to identifying barriers or opportunities
for change.
5. Problems and change are viewed within larger contexts.
Apgar PhD LSW ACSW, Dr. Dawn (2015-05-11). Social Work ASWB Masters Exam Guide: A
Comprehensive Study Guide for Success (pp. 43-44). Springer Publishing Company. Kindle
Edition.
Some System Theory Terms - ANS Closed system- uses up its energy and dies
COPYRIGHT © 2025 THESTAR ALL RIGHTS RESERVED 1
,Differentiation- becoming specialized in structure and function
Entropy- closed, disorganized, stagnant; using up available energy
Equifinality- arriving at the same end from different beginnings
homeostasis steady state
Input- obtaining resources from the environment that are necessary to attain the goals of the
system
Negative entropy- exchange of energy and resources between systems that promote growth
and transformation
Open system a system with cross-boundary exchange
Output- product of the system that exports to the environment
Subsystem- a major component of a system made up of two or more interdependent
components that interact in order to attain their own purpose( s) and the purpose( s) of the
system in which they are embedded
Suprasystem- an entity that is served by a number of component systems organized in
interacting relationships throughput energy that is integrated into the system so it can be used
by the system to accomplish its goals
Apgar PhD LSW ACSW, Dr. Dawn (2015-05-11). Social Work ASWB Masters Exam Guide: A
Comprehensive Study Guide for Success (p. 44). Springer Publishing Company. Kindle Edition.
The eight interlocking concepts of Bowen Theory include: - ANS 1) Differentiation of Self
2) Triangles
3) Nuclear Family Emotional Process
4) Family Projection Process
5) Emotional Cutoff
6) Multigenerational Transmission Process
7) Sibling Position
8) Societal Emotional Process.
COPYRIGHT © 2025 THESTAR ALL RIGHTS RESERVED 2
,FAMILY THEORIES - ANS Family theory provides a theoretical and therapeutic base for
dealing with family-related situations; it is also useful in understanding and managing individual
problems by determining the extent to which such problems are related to family issues. A
family systems approach argues that in order to understand a family system, a social worker
must look at the family as a whole, rather than focusing on its members. People do not exist in
a vacuum. They live, play, go to school, and work with other people. Most anthropologists
agree that, next to their peculiar tendency to think and use tools, one of the distinguishing
characteristics of human beings is that they are social creatures. The social group that seems to
be most universal and pervasive in the way it shapes human behavior is the family. For social
workers, the growing awareness of the crucial impact of families on clients has led to the
development of family systems theory. Family systems theory searches for the causes of
behavior, not in the individual alone, but in the interactions among the members of a group.
The basic rationale is that all parts of the family are interrelated. Further, the family has
properties of its own that can be known only by looking at the relationships and interactions
among all members.
Apgar PhD LSW ACSW, Dr. Dawn (2015-05-11). Social Work ASWB Masters Exam Guide: A
Comprehensive Study Guide for Success (pp. 44-45). Springer Publishing Company. Kindle
Edition.
The family systems approach is based on several basic assumptions: - ANS 1. Each family is
more than a sum of its members.
2. Each family is unique, due to the infinite variations in personal characteristics and cultural
and ideological styles.
3. A healthy family has flexibility, consistent structure, and effective exchange of information.
4. The family is an interactional system whose component parts have constantly shifting
boundaries and varying degrees of resistance to change.
5. Families must fulfill a variety of functions for each member, both collectively and individually,
if each member is to grow and develop.
6. Families strive for a sense of balance or homeostasis.
7. Negative feedback loops are those patterns of interaction that maintain stability or constancy
while minimizing change. Negative feedback loops help to maintain homeostasis. Positive
feedback loops, in contrast, are patterns of interaction that facilitate change or movement
toward either growth or dissolution.
COPYRIGHT © 2025 THESTAR ALL RIGHTS RESERVED 3
, 8. Families are seen as being goal oriented. The concept of equifinality refers to the ability of
the family system to accomplish the same goals through different routes.
9. The concept of hierarchies describes how families organize themselves into various smaller
units or subsystems that are comprised by the larger family system. When the members or
tasks associated with each subsystem become blurred with those of other subsystems, families
have been viewed as having difficulties. For example, when a child becomes involved in marital
issues, difficulties often emerge that require intervention.
10. Boundaries occur at every level of the system and between subsystems. Boundaries
influence the movement of people and the flow of information into and out of the system.
Some families have very open boundaries where members and others are allowed to freely
come and go without much restriction; in other famil
The family systems Key clinical issues include: - ANS -Establishing a contract with the family
-Examining alliances within the family
-Identifying where power resides
-Determining the relationship of each family member to the problem
-Seeing how the family relates to the outside world
-Assessing influence of family history on current family interactions
-Ascertaining communication patterns
-Identifying family rules that regulate patterns of interaction
-Determining meaning of presenting symptom in maintaining family homeostasis
-Examining flexibility of structure and accessibility of alternative action patterns
-Finding out about sources of external stress and support The following are some types of
family therapy.
Apgar PhD LSW ACSW, Dr. Dawn (2015-05-11). Social Work ASWB Masters Exam Guide: A
Comprehensive Study Guide for Success (p. 46). Springer Publishing Company. Kindle Edition.
The stages of group development are: - ANS 1. Preaffiliation— development of trust (known
as forming)
COPYRIGHT © 2025 THESTAR ALL RIGHTS RESERVED 4
