ASWB LMSW EXAM (FULL) QUESTIONS
AND ANSWERS WITH SOLUTIONS 2024
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)
AND ANSWERS WITH SOLUTIONS 2024
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)
