ASWB - LCSW Exam Questions and
Correct Answers
Erik Erikson - Answer-- Known for 8-stage Psychosocial Stages of Development
[Personality develops throughout the life course; Identity crises for each stage of human development]
Trust vs. Mistrust - Erikson - Answer-- Birth to 1 year
- Learn ability to trust others based on consistency of caregivers
- Confident/secure vs. fear/insecure
Autonomy vs. Shame/Doubt - Erikson - Answer-- Between ages 1-3
- Begin to assert independence
- Confident/secure in own ability to survive vs. lack of self-esteem/inadequate
Initiative vs. Guilt - Erikson - Answer-- Between ages 3-6
- Develop sense of initiative/feel secure in ability to lead/make decisions vs. sense of
guilt/nuisance/follower
Industry vs. Inferiority - Erikson - Answer-- Age 6 - puberty
,- Begin to develop sense of pride in accomplishments
- Feel industrious/confident in ability to achieve goals vs. feel inferior/doubt ability/fail to reach
potential
Identity vs. Role Confusion - Erikson - Answer-- Adolescence
- Become more independent
- Explore possibilities/form own identity vs. sense of confusion about self/role in world
Intimacy vs. Isolation - Erikson - Answer-- Young Adulthood
- Begin to share self more intimately
- Lead to comfortable relationships/sense of commitment, safety, care vs. avoid intimacy/fear
commitment/led to isolation/loneliness
Generativity vs. Stagnation - Erikson - Answer-- Middle Adulthood
- Individuals establish careers, settle relationships, develop sense of being part of a bigger picture
- Give back to society/raise children/productive work vs. fail to achieve
objectives/stagnant/unproductive
Ego Integrity vs. Despair - Erikson - Answer-- Older Adulthood
- Contemplate accomplishments, develop sense of integrity during slowing life
- Sense of integrity if satisfied w/ life progression vs. despair/dissatisfaction/ hopeless if sees life as
unproductive or failed to accomplish life goals
6 Levels of Cognition - Answer-- Knowledge
- Comprehension
- Application
- Analysis
,- Synthesis
- Evaluation
3 Domains of Development - Answer-- Cognitive: mental skills (knowledge)
- Affective: growth in feelings or emotional areas (attitude or self)
- Psychomotor: manual or physical skills (skills)
Jean Piaget - Answer-- Known for Theory of Cognitive Development
[Sensorimotor, Preoperational, Concrete Operations, Formal Operations]
Sensorimotor Stage - Piaget - Answer-- Between 0-2 years
- Retains image of objects
- Begins intentional actions
- Develops primitive logic in manipulating objects
- Play is imitative
- Signals Meaning (infant invests meaning in event - e.g. babysitter comes, means mom is leaving)
- Symbol Meaning (language)
Preoperational Stage - Piaget - Answer-- Between 2-7 years
- Progress from concrete to abstract thinking
- Can comprehend past, present, future
- Night terrors
- Acquires words and symbols
- Magical Thinking
- Thinking is not generalized, it is concrete, irreversible, egocentric
, - Cannot see another point of view
- Imaginary Friends (normal development)
Concrete Operations - Piaget - Answer-- Between 7-11 years
- Beginnings of abstract thought
- Plays games w/ rules
- Cause and Effect relationship understood
- Logical implications are understood
- Thinking is independent of experience, and is reversible
- Rules of logic are developed
Formal Operations - Piaget - Answer-- Age 11 through Maturity
- Higher level of abstraction
- Planning for future
- Thinks hypothetically
- Assumes adult roles and responsibilities
Lawrence Kohlberg - Answer-- Known for Theory of Moral Development
(parallels cognitive development; higher stages of moral development provides greater capacity/ability
for decision making, handing complex dilemmas; moral reasoning is basis for ethical behavior; must past
through 6 developmental constructive stages without skipping)
Preconventional Level - Kohlberg - Answer-- Before age 9, elementary school level
*Stage 1, Obedience/Punishment:* people obey authority figure out of fear of punishment; learned on
larger levels as an infant/child, but can be learned at the adult level
EX: kid has learned to not talk back to parents because he'll get yelled at, but if he acts correctly, there
are rewards
Correct Answers
Erik Erikson - Answer-- Known for 8-stage Psychosocial Stages of Development
[Personality develops throughout the life course; Identity crises for each stage of human development]
Trust vs. Mistrust - Erikson - Answer-- Birth to 1 year
- Learn ability to trust others based on consistency of caregivers
- Confident/secure vs. fear/insecure
Autonomy vs. Shame/Doubt - Erikson - Answer-- Between ages 1-3
- Begin to assert independence
- Confident/secure in own ability to survive vs. lack of self-esteem/inadequate
Initiative vs. Guilt - Erikson - Answer-- Between ages 3-6
- Develop sense of initiative/feel secure in ability to lead/make decisions vs. sense of
guilt/nuisance/follower
Industry vs. Inferiority - Erikson - Answer-- Age 6 - puberty
,- Begin to develop sense of pride in accomplishments
- Feel industrious/confident in ability to achieve goals vs. feel inferior/doubt ability/fail to reach
potential
Identity vs. Role Confusion - Erikson - Answer-- Adolescence
- Become more independent
- Explore possibilities/form own identity vs. sense of confusion about self/role in world
Intimacy vs. Isolation - Erikson - Answer-- Young Adulthood
- Begin to share self more intimately
- Lead to comfortable relationships/sense of commitment, safety, care vs. avoid intimacy/fear
commitment/led to isolation/loneliness
Generativity vs. Stagnation - Erikson - Answer-- Middle Adulthood
- Individuals establish careers, settle relationships, develop sense of being part of a bigger picture
- Give back to society/raise children/productive work vs. fail to achieve
objectives/stagnant/unproductive
Ego Integrity vs. Despair - Erikson - Answer-- Older Adulthood
- Contemplate accomplishments, develop sense of integrity during slowing life
- Sense of integrity if satisfied w/ life progression vs. despair/dissatisfaction/ hopeless if sees life as
unproductive or failed to accomplish life goals
6 Levels of Cognition - Answer-- Knowledge
- Comprehension
- Application
- Analysis
,- Synthesis
- Evaluation
3 Domains of Development - Answer-- Cognitive: mental skills (knowledge)
- Affective: growth in feelings or emotional areas (attitude or self)
- Psychomotor: manual or physical skills (skills)
Jean Piaget - Answer-- Known for Theory of Cognitive Development
[Sensorimotor, Preoperational, Concrete Operations, Formal Operations]
Sensorimotor Stage - Piaget - Answer-- Between 0-2 years
- Retains image of objects
- Begins intentional actions
- Develops primitive logic in manipulating objects
- Play is imitative
- Signals Meaning (infant invests meaning in event - e.g. babysitter comes, means mom is leaving)
- Symbol Meaning (language)
Preoperational Stage - Piaget - Answer-- Between 2-7 years
- Progress from concrete to abstract thinking
- Can comprehend past, present, future
- Night terrors
- Acquires words and symbols
- Magical Thinking
- Thinking is not generalized, it is concrete, irreversible, egocentric
, - Cannot see another point of view
- Imaginary Friends (normal development)
Concrete Operations - Piaget - Answer-- Between 7-11 years
- Beginnings of abstract thought
- Plays games w/ rules
- Cause and Effect relationship understood
- Logical implications are understood
- Thinking is independent of experience, and is reversible
- Rules of logic are developed
Formal Operations - Piaget - Answer-- Age 11 through Maturity
- Higher level of abstraction
- Planning for future
- Thinks hypothetically
- Assumes adult roles and responsibilities
Lawrence Kohlberg - Answer-- Known for Theory of Moral Development
(parallels cognitive development; higher stages of moral development provides greater capacity/ability
for decision making, handing complex dilemmas; moral reasoning is basis for ethical behavior; must past
through 6 developmental constructive stages without skipping)
Preconventional Level - Kohlberg - Answer-- Before age 9, elementary school level
*Stage 1, Obedience/Punishment:* people obey authority figure out of fear of punishment; learned on
larger levels as an infant/child, but can be learned at the adult level
EX: kid has learned to not talk back to parents because he'll get yelled at, but if he acts correctly, there
are rewards
