MFT Exam Questions with Verified
Solutions
Classical Conditioning: - ANSWER-A learning paradigm studied and practiced in a
laboratory or other controlled environment in which a stimulus called the unconditioned
stimulus (US) which naturally elicits an unconditioned response (UCR), is paired with a
neutral stimulus that does not initially elicit a response. Through the repeated pairings,
the neutral stimulus (now the conditioned stimulus - CS) begins to elicit the desired
response (now the conditioned response - CR).
Coercion (Aversive Control): - ANSWER-From behavioral family therapy, one person
uses aversive stimuli to control the behavior of another.
Coaching - ANSWER-In Bowenian therapy (used by other models as well), the use of
an objective person, such as the therapist, to guide a family member to interact with
other members in new ways and prevent the family from seducing the person back into
older, dysfunctional behaviors. The therapist takes an educative role, rather than an
emotional one.
Sibling Position: - ANSWER-Bowen theory incorporates the research of psychologist
Walter Toman as a foundation for its concept of sibling position. Bowen observed the
impact of sibling position on development and behavior in his family research. However,
he found Toman's work so thorough and consistent with his ideas that he incorporated it
into his theory. The basic idea is that people who grow up in the same sibling position
predictably have important common characteristics. For example, oldest children tend to
gravitate to leadership positions and youngest children often prefer to be followers. The
characteristics of one position are not "better" than those of another position, but are
complementary. For example, a boss who is an oldest child may work unusually well
with a first assistant who is a youngest child. Youngest children may like to be in
charge, but their leadership style typically differs from an oldest's style. (From the
Bowen Center website)
Cognitive Behavior Family Therapy (CBT): - ANSWER-Therapies based on both
behavioral techniques, which grew out of scientific, laboratory experiments, and on the
cognitive therapy models. People learn to modify behaviors both by altering the
reinforcement contingencies and/or changing the cognitions that influence their
behaviors and interactions.
Circumplex Model: - ANSWER-A model for observing and assessing families designed
by Olson, which measures the family's levels of cohesion and adaptability. Families with
, too much cohesion tend to function as enmeshed, and those with too little can be
disengaged. Too much adaptability can result in excessive and unpredictable change,
while too little can result in rigidity and failure to transition through the life cycle. Healthy
families will be balanced, having neither too much nor too little of either quality. Olson's
evaluation tool, FACES III gained popularity as it is used to apply the Circumplex Model
to family assessment.
Coding Schemas: - ANSWER-Used in information management and research, these
systems establish an organized and consistent approach to identifying and counting
clinical phenomena.
Cohesion: - ANSWER-From Olson's Circumplex Model, a measure of the strength of
the emotional bonds between and among family members.
Closed System: - ANSWER-1. A self-contained system with impermeable boundaries
which resists change and operates with minimal interactions with its outside
environment, thereby increasing its dysfunction.
2. Developed by Kantor and Lehr, a closed family system is a very traditional,
hierarchically structured family type. Contrasted with random and open systems and
Constantine's addition of a synchonis family type.
Collusion: - ANSWER-A family system defense mechanism in which members
cooperate by unconsciously sharing thoughts and feelings. The defense is used to
protect family members from threatening outside forces. For example, both spouses
and children may collude to perceive an alcoholic member who induces friends and
family to drink with him, as simply a light hearted partygoer.
Complementarity: - ANSWER-An interactional pattern in which members of an intimate
relationship establish roles and take on behavioral patterns which fulfill the unconscious
needs and demands of the other.
Content: - ANSWER-A term that describes the topics that people in therapy are
discussing (see Process).
Cultural Consciousness (Cultural Sensitivity): - ANSWER-Therapists' sensitivity to the
existence and impact of the family's cultural rules and values. Such awareness enables
easier engagement, reduces misunderstanding and misinterpretation of family
members' behavior, and facilitates the development of trust. Therapists should be aware
of their biases regarding the cultural background of others and their own.
AAMFT: - ANSWER-American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy, Inc., the
primary national professional association of MFTs. AAMFT is located in Washington,
DC. Although AAMFT makes no direct contribution to the licensing examination, many
senior members have contributed test items. AAMFT wrote the Code of Ethics, which is
the basis for the MFT ethical codes in all states.
Solutions
Classical Conditioning: - ANSWER-A learning paradigm studied and practiced in a
laboratory or other controlled environment in which a stimulus called the unconditioned
stimulus (US) which naturally elicits an unconditioned response (UCR), is paired with a
neutral stimulus that does not initially elicit a response. Through the repeated pairings,
the neutral stimulus (now the conditioned stimulus - CS) begins to elicit the desired
response (now the conditioned response - CR).
Coercion (Aversive Control): - ANSWER-From behavioral family therapy, one person
uses aversive stimuli to control the behavior of another.
Coaching - ANSWER-In Bowenian therapy (used by other models as well), the use of
an objective person, such as the therapist, to guide a family member to interact with
other members in new ways and prevent the family from seducing the person back into
older, dysfunctional behaviors. The therapist takes an educative role, rather than an
emotional one.
Sibling Position: - ANSWER-Bowen theory incorporates the research of psychologist
Walter Toman as a foundation for its concept of sibling position. Bowen observed the
impact of sibling position on development and behavior in his family research. However,
he found Toman's work so thorough and consistent with his ideas that he incorporated it
into his theory. The basic idea is that people who grow up in the same sibling position
predictably have important common characteristics. For example, oldest children tend to
gravitate to leadership positions and youngest children often prefer to be followers. The
characteristics of one position are not "better" than those of another position, but are
complementary. For example, a boss who is an oldest child may work unusually well
with a first assistant who is a youngest child. Youngest children may like to be in
charge, but their leadership style typically differs from an oldest's style. (From the
Bowen Center website)
Cognitive Behavior Family Therapy (CBT): - ANSWER-Therapies based on both
behavioral techniques, which grew out of scientific, laboratory experiments, and on the
cognitive therapy models. People learn to modify behaviors both by altering the
reinforcement contingencies and/or changing the cognitions that influence their
behaviors and interactions.
Circumplex Model: - ANSWER-A model for observing and assessing families designed
by Olson, which measures the family's levels of cohesion and adaptability. Families with
, too much cohesion tend to function as enmeshed, and those with too little can be
disengaged. Too much adaptability can result in excessive and unpredictable change,
while too little can result in rigidity and failure to transition through the life cycle. Healthy
families will be balanced, having neither too much nor too little of either quality. Olson's
evaluation tool, FACES III gained popularity as it is used to apply the Circumplex Model
to family assessment.
Coding Schemas: - ANSWER-Used in information management and research, these
systems establish an organized and consistent approach to identifying and counting
clinical phenomena.
Cohesion: - ANSWER-From Olson's Circumplex Model, a measure of the strength of
the emotional bonds between and among family members.
Closed System: - ANSWER-1. A self-contained system with impermeable boundaries
which resists change and operates with minimal interactions with its outside
environment, thereby increasing its dysfunction.
2. Developed by Kantor and Lehr, a closed family system is a very traditional,
hierarchically structured family type. Contrasted with random and open systems and
Constantine's addition of a synchonis family type.
Collusion: - ANSWER-A family system defense mechanism in which members
cooperate by unconsciously sharing thoughts and feelings. The defense is used to
protect family members from threatening outside forces. For example, both spouses
and children may collude to perceive an alcoholic member who induces friends and
family to drink with him, as simply a light hearted partygoer.
Complementarity: - ANSWER-An interactional pattern in which members of an intimate
relationship establish roles and take on behavioral patterns which fulfill the unconscious
needs and demands of the other.
Content: - ANSWER-A term that describes the topics that people in therapy are
discussing (see Process).
Cultural Consciousness (Cultural Sensitivity): - ANSWER-Therapists' sensitivity to the
existence and impact of the family's cultural rules and values. Such awareness enables
easier engagement, reduces misunderstanding and misinterpretation of family
members' behavior, and facilitates the development of trust. Therapists should be aware
of their biases regarding the cultural background of others and their own.
AAMFT: - ANSWER-American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy, Inc., the
primary national professional association of MFTs. AAMFT is located in Washington,
DC. Although AAMFT makes no direct contribution to the licensing examination, many
senior members have contributed test items. AAMFT wrote the Code of Ethics, which is
the basis for the MFT ethical codes in all states.
