LMSW EXAM QUESTIONS WITH
CORRECT ANSWERS
Define Industry v. Inferiority - ANSWER-Age 6 to puberty. Children develop sense of
pride in accomplishments, initiate projects, feel good about what they achieved.
Successful: feel industrious and confident in their ability to achieve goals.
Unsuccessful through restriction: feel inferior, doubt their abilities, and fail to reach
potential.
Define Identity v. Role Confusion - ANSWER-Adolescence- transition from childhood
to adulthood; most important. Children become more independent and begin to think
of future. They also explore possibilities and begin to form their own identities based
on explorations. If hindered, sense of confusion can develop such as not knowing
what to be when they grow up.
Define Intimacy v. Isolation - ANSWER-Young adulthood. Individuals share
themselves more intimately with others and explore relationships leading to long-
term commitment. Successful: Comfortable relationships, sense of commitment,
safety, and care within relationship. Avoiding intimacy and fearing commitment can
lead to isolation, loneliness, and sometimes depression.
Define Generativity v. Stagnation - ANSWER-Middle adulthood. Individuals establish
careers, settle down in relationships, develop sense of being a part of the bigger
picture, give back to society through raising children, giving back at work, and being
involved in community. Unsuccessful: individuals become stagnant and feel
unproductive.
Define Ego Integrity v. Despair - ANSWER-Senior citizens. People slow down and
retire. Contemplate accomplishments, able to develop sense of integrity if satisfied
with life. If dissatisfied: develop despair leading to depression and hopelessness.
What is the true work of childhood? - ANSWER-Play
Emotional development emphasizes... - ANSWER-Skills that increase self-
awareness and self-regulation.
Social Skills and emotional development are reflected in... - ANSWER-The ability to
pay attention, make transitions from one activity to another, and cooperate with
others.
During play, what do children learn? - ANSWER-They are liked and fun to be
around. They receive self-confidence they need to build loving and supportive
relationships.
Cognitive development focuses on development in terms of... - ANSWER-
Information processing, conceptual resources, perceptual skill, language learning,
and other aspects of the brain. It is the emergence of the ability to think and
understand.
,What are the 6 levels of cognition? - ANSWER-Knowledge, Comprehension,
Application, Analysis, Synthesis, and Evaluation.
Define Knowledge within cognitive development - ANSWER-Rote memorization,
recognition, or recall of facts.
Define Comprehension within cognitive development - ANSWER-Understanding
what the facts mean.
Define Application within cognitive development - ANSWER-Correct use of facts,
rules, or ideas.
Define Analysis within cognitive development - ANSWER-Breaking down information
into component parts
Define Synthesis within cognitive development - ANSWER-Combination of facts,
ideas, or information to make a new whole
Define Evaluation within cognitive development - ANSWER-Judging or forming an
opinion about the information or situation
Define "Affective" within development - ANSWER-Growth in feelings or emotional
areas (attitude or self)
Who was a developmental psychologist best known for his theory of cognitive
development? Who also held the belief that children learn through interaction with
the environment and others. - ANSWER-Jean Piaget
Who was best known for further develop Piaget's moral development theory? -
ANSWER-Lawrence Kohlberg
What are the stages of cognitive development? - ANSWER-Sensorimotor,
Preoperational, Concrete operations, and Formal Operations
What did Kohlberg believe was the basis for ethical behavior that allows a person to
make better decisions and helps people handle complex dilemmas? - ANSWER-
Moral Reasoning
What are the 3 levels of moral reasoning? - ANSWER-Preconventional,
Conventional, and Postconventional
What is a conceptual framework for how information is absorbed, processed, and
retained? - ANSWER-Learning Theory
What are the four main learning theories? - ANSWER-Behaviorist, Cognitive,
Humanistic, and Social/Situational
,Define Behaviorist learning theory - ANSWER-Learning is viewed through change in
behavior and the stimuli in the external environment. Social workers aim to change
the external environment in order to bring about desired change.
Define Cognitive learning theory - ANSWER-Learning is viewed through internal
mental processes and the locus of learning is internal cognitive structures. Social
workers aim to develop opportunities to foster capacity and skills to improve learning.
Define Humanistic learning theory - ANSWER-Learning is viewed as a person's
activities aimed at reaching their potential, and the locus of learning is in meeting
cognitive and other needs. Social workers aim to develop the whole person.
Define Social/Situational learning theory - ANSWER-Learning is obtained between
people and their environment and their interactions and observations in social
contexts. Social workers establish opportunities for conversation and participation to
occur.
What development theory suggests that personality is a direct result of interaction
between the individual and the environment, studies observable and measurable
behaviors, and rejects internal thoughts and feelings? - ANSWER-Behavioral
Development Theory
What are the two fundamental classes of behavior according to behavioral theory? -
ANSWER-Respondent and Operant
Define Respondent - ANSWER-Involuntary behavior that is automatically elicited by
certain behavior. A stimulus elicits a response.
Define Operant - ANSWER-Voluntary behavior that is controlled by its
consequences in the environment.
Define Respondent or Classical Conditioning - ANSWER-Learning occurs as a result
of pairing previously neutral (conditioned) stimulus with an unconditioned
(involuntary) stimulus so that the conditioned stimulus eventually elicits the response
normally elicited by the unconditioned stimulus.
Define Operant Conditioning - ANSWER-Antecedent events or stimuli precede
behaviors, which, in turn, are followed by consequences.
Define reinforcing consequences - ANSWER-Consequences that increase the
occurrence of behavior.
Define punishing consequences - ANSWER-Consequences that decrease the
occurrence of behavior.
Which of the following is NOT an exception to a social worker's duty to protect
confidentiality: When a client poses a serious risk to self and others, When child
abuse is suspected, When a client has violated criminal laws and has no been
properly prosecuted, or When there is imminent threat by client to an identifiable
, third party? - ANSWER-When a client has violated criminal laws and has no been
properly prosecuted
Which theory is used to explain why clients in battering relationships will not leave
until the benefits exceed the risks? - ANSWER-Social exchange
A social worker is working with a client who is anxious about public speaking. The
social worker asks the client to close her eyes, visualize herself speaking to a large
group, and describe her feelings related to the imaginary situation. This technique by
the social worker is known as: - ANSWER-Covert Modeling
Who was interested in how children socialize, how it affects their sense of self, saw
personality as developing throughout the life course, and looked at identity crises as
the focal point for each stage of human development? - ANSWER-Erik Erikson
Define Trust v. Mistrust - ANSWER-From birth to 1 year of age. Children begin to
learn the ability to trust others based on the consistency of their caregivers.
Successful: child gains confidence and security and is able to feel secure even when
threatened. Unsuccessful: inability to trust, sense of fear about the inconsistent
world. May result in: high anxiety, heightened insecurities, and feelings of mistrust in
world.
Define Autonomy v. Shame and Doubt - ANSWER-Between the ages of 1 and 3.
Children assert their independence such as making their own choices. If children are
encouraged: increased independence, more confident and secure in their ability to
survive world. If criticized, overly controlled or not given the opportunity to assert
selves: feel inadequate in abilities, overly dependent, lack self-esteem, and sense of
shame and doubt in abilities.
Define Initiative v. Guilt - ANSWER-Age 3 to 6. Children assert themselves more
frequently such as making up games, initiating activities with others, etc. Successful:
develop sense of initiative, feeling of security in leading others and decision-making.
Unsuccessful through criticism or control: develop sense of guilt, feel like nuisances
to others, remain followers, lack self-initiative.
What are the 4 Operant techniques? - ANSWER-Positive reinforcement, negative
reinforcement, positive punishment, and negative punishment.
Define Positive Punishment - ANSWER-Presentation of undesirable stimulus
following a behavior for the purpose of decreasing or eliminating that behavior.
(hitting, shocking, etc.)
Define Negative Punishment - ANSWER-Removal of a desirable stimulus following a
behavior for the purpose of decreasing or eliminating that behavior. (i.e., removing
something positive, such as a token or dessert)
Define aversion therapy - ANSWER-Any treatment aimed at reducing the
attractiveness of a stimulus or a behavior by repeated pairing of it with an aversion
stimulus. An example of this is treating alcoholism with Antabuse.
CORRECT ANSWERS
Define Industry v. Inferiority - ANSWER-Age 6 to puberty. Children develop sense of
pride in accomplishments, initiate projects, feel good about what they achieved.
Successful: feel industrious and confident in their ability to achieve goals.
Unsuccessful through restriction: feel inferior, doubt their abilities, and fail to reach
potential.
Define Identity v. Role Confusion - ANSWER-Adolescence- transition from childhood
to adulthood; most important. Children become more independent and begin to think
of future. They also explore possibilities and begin to form their own identities based
on explorations. If hindered, sense of confusion can develop such as not knowing
what to be when they grow up.
Define Intimacy v. Isolation - ANSWER-Young adulthood. Individuals share
themselves more intimately with others and explore relationships leading to long-
term commitment. Successful: Comfortable relationships, sense of commitment,
safety, and care within relationship. Avoiding intimacy and fearing commitment can
lead to isolation, loneliness, and sometimes depression.
Define Generativity v. Stagnation - ANSWER-Middle adulthood. Individuals establish
careers, settle down in relationships, develop sense of being a part of the bigger
picture, give back to society through raising children, giving back at work, and being
involved in community. Unsuccessful: individuals become stagnant and feel
unproductive.
Define Ego Integrity v. Despair - ANSWER-Senior citizens. People slow down and
retire. Contemplate accomplishments, able to develop sense of integrity if satisfied
with life. If dissatisfied: develop despair leading to depression and hopelessness.
What is the true work of childhood? - ANSWER-Play
Emotional development emphasizes... - ANSWER-Skills that increase self-
awareness and self-regulation.
Social Skills and emotional development are reflected in... - ANSWER-The ability to
pay attention, make transitions from one activity to another, and cooperate with
others.
During play, what do children learn? - ANSWER-They are liked and fun to be
around. They receive self-confidence they need to build loving and supportive
relationships.
Cognitive development focuses on development in terms of... - ANSWER-
Information processing, conceptual resources, perceptual skill, language learning,
and other aspects of the brain. It is the emergence of the ability to think and
understand.
,What are the 6 levels of cognition? - ANSWER-Knowledge, Comprehension,
Application, Analysis, Synthesis, and Evaluation.
Define Knowledge within cognitive development - ANSWER-Rote memorization,
recognition, or recall of facts.
Define Comprehension within cognitive development - ANSWER-Understanding
what the facts mean.
Define Application within cognitive development - ANSWER-Correct use of facts,
rules, or ideas.
Define Analysis within cognitive development - ANSWER-Breaking down information
into component parts
Define Synthesis within cognitive development - ANSWER-Combination of facts,
ideas, or information to make a new whole
Define Evaluation within cognitive development - ANSWER-Judging or forming an
opinion about the information or situation
Define "Affective" within development - ANSWER-Growth in feelings or emotional
areas (attitude or self)
Who was a developmental psychologist best known for his theory of cognitive
development? Who also held the belief that children learn through interaction with
the environment and others. - ANSWER-Jean Piaget
Who was best known for further develop Piaget's moral development theory? -
ANSWER-Lawrence Kohlberg
What are the stages of cognitive development? - ANSWER-Sensorimotor,
Preoperational, Concrete operations, and Formal Operations
What did Kohlberg believe was the basis for ethical behavior that allows a person to
make better decisions and helps people handle complex dilemmas? - ANSWER-
Moral Reasoning
What are the 3 levels of moral reasoning? - ANSWER-Preconventional,
Conventional, and Postconventional
What is a conceptual framework for how information is absorbed, processed, and
retained? - ANSWER-Learning Theory
What are the four main learning theories? - ANSWER-Behaviorist, Cognitive,
Humanistic, and Social/Situational
,Define Behaviorist learning theory - ANSWER-Learning is viewed through change in
behavior and the stimuli in the external environment. Social workers aim to change
the external environment in order to bring about desired change.
Define Cognitive learning theory - ANSWER-Learning is viewed through internal
mental processes and the locus of learning is internal cognitive structures. Social
workers aim to develop opportunities to foster capacity and skills to improve learning.
Define Humanistic learning theory - ANSWER-Learning is viewed as a person's
activities aimed at reaching their potential, and the locus of learning is in meeting
cognitive and other needs. Social workers aim to develop the whole person.
Define Social/Situational learning theory - ANSWER-Learning is obtained between
people and their environment and their interactions and observations in social
contexts. Social workers establish opportunities for conversation and participation to
occur.
What development theory suggests that personality is a direct result of interaction
between the individual and the environment, studies observable and measurable
behaviors, and rejects internal thoughts and feelings? - ANSWER-Behavioral
Development Theory
What are the two fundamental classes of behavior according to behavioral theory? -
ANSWER-Respondent and Operant
Define Respondent - ANSWER-Involuntary behavior that is automatically elicited by
certain behavior. A stimulus elicits a response.
Define Operant - ANSWER-Voluntary behavior that is controlled by its
consequences in the environment.
Define Respondent or Classical Conditioning - ANSWER-Learning occurs as a result
of pairing previously neutral (conditioned) stimulus with an unconditioned
(involuntary) stimulus so that the conditioned stimulus eventually elicits the response
normally elicited by the unconditioned stimulus.
Define Operant Conditioning - ANSWER-Antecedent events or stimuli precede
behaviors, which, in turn, are followed by consequences.
Define reinforcing consequences - ANSWER-Consequences that increase the
occurrence of behavior.
Define punishing consequences - ANSWER-Consequences that decrease the
occurrence of behavior.
Which of the following is NOT an exception to a social worker's duty to protect
confidentiality: When a client poses a serious risk to self and others, When child
abuse is suspected, When a client has violated criminal laws and has no been
properly prosecuted, or When there is imminent threat by client to an identifiable
, third party? - ANSWER-When a client has violated criminal laws and has no been
properly prosecuted
Which theory is used to explain why clients in battering relationships will not leave
until the benefits exceed the risks? - ANSWER-Social exchange
A social worker is working with a client who is anxious about public speaking. The
social worker asks the client to close her eyes, visualize herself speaking to a large
group, and describe her feelings related to the imaginary situation. This technique by
the social worker is known as: - ANSWER-Covert Modeling
Who was interested in how children socialize, how it affects their sense of self, saw
personality as developing throughout the life course, and looked at identity crises as
the focal point for each stage of human development? - ANSWER-Erik Erikson
Define Trust v. Mistrust - ANSWER-From birth to 1 year of age. Children begin to
learn the ability to trust others based on the consistency of their caregivers.
Successful: child gains confidence and security and is able to feel secure even when
threatened. Unsuccessful: inability to trust, sense of fear about the inconsistent
world. May result in: high anxiety, heightened insecurities, and feelings of mistrust in
world.
Define Autonomy v. Shame and Doubt - ANSWER-Between the ages of 1 and 3.
Children assert their independence such as making their own choices. If children are
encouraged: increased independence, more confident and secure in their ability to
survive world. If criticized, overly controlled or not given the opportunity to assert
selves: feel inadequate in abilities, overly dependent, lack self-esteem, and sense of
shame and doubt in abilities.
Define Initiative v. Guilt - ANSWER-Age 3 to 6. Children assert themselves more
frequently such as making up games, initiating activities with others, etc. Successful:
develop sense of initiative, feeling of security in leading others and decision-making.
Unsuccessful through criticism or control: develop sense of guilt, feel like nuisances
to others, remain followers, lack self-initiative.
What are the 4 Operant techniques? - ANSWER-Positive reinforcement, negative
reinforcement, positive punishment, and negative punishment.
Define Positive Punishment - ANSWER-Presentation of undesirable stimulus
following a behavior for the purpose of decreasing or eliminating that behavior.
(hitting, shocking, etc.)
Define Negative Punishment - ANSWER-Removal of a desirable stimulus following a
behavior for the purpose of decreasing or eliminating that behavior. (i.e., removing
something positive, such as a token or dessert)
Define aversion therapy - ANSWER-Any treatment aimed at reducing the
attractiveness of a stimulus or a behavior by repeated pairing of it with an aversion
stimulus. An example of this is treating alcoholism with Antabuse.
