AMFTRB Exam Questions and answers with complete solutions Latest Updated 2025 |
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Ludwig von Bertalanffy (theory) - ✔✔General systems theory
General Systems Theory (GST): underpinnings - ✔✔The focus is on the relationship between individuals,
not individuals themselves (whole > sum of parts). Changes in one part will have effect on the other
parts.
Open systems - ✔✔Systems that allow flow of info from outside system (GST)
Non-summativity - ✔✔The family system is treated as a whole and not just each individual family
member
Homeostasis - ✔✔Systems tend to resist change and thus deal with issues by
keeping things the same rather than dealing with problems. It is maintained
through negative feedback and input loops. (GST)
Homeostasis is achieved by... - ✔✔Negative feedback loops (or sameness) (GST)
Family models/maps - ✔✔Individuals and system will consciously or unconsciously use models/maps to
manage boundaries and make sense of realities
Entropy - ✔✔Measure of disorder in a system if it is too open/closed, or BREAKING DOWN (GST)
Negative entropy - ✔✔System is balanced between open and closedness, info can enter or be screened
out as needed, or GROWTH (GST)
Equipotentiality - ✔✔Individual family
members sharing the same experiences within the system, but ending up with various results later in life
(cannot predict single outcome) (GST)
,Equifinality - ✔✔Individual family members arrive at the same result although they
began at different starting points (GST)
GST theory of change - ✔✔Change occurs when members of the system understand how their actions
and
communications affect the system as a whole. Once individuals have a greater
understanding of this, they can work more effectively together to optimize emotional and
social functioning of the system.
Positive feedback loops (amplifying) - ✔✔Variety in growth, info from outside of system that changes
homeostasis, risk for chaos (Cybernetics)
Negative feedback loops (attenuating) - ✔✔Constancy, info from outside of system that returns to
homeostasis, risk for rigidity (Cybernetics)
Morphogenesis - ✔✔A system's tendency towards growth and change, it can change its form while
maintaining balance (Cybernetics)
Morphogenesis is a result of... - ✔✔Positive feedback loops (Cybernetics)
Morphostasis - ✔✔System's tendency to maintain it's shape (Cybernetics)
First order change - ✔✔Temporary or surface level changes that don't affect rules or organization of
system. Behavioral changes that are not getting at underlying causes of issues. These changes tend to be
short-lived (Cybernetics)
Second order change - ✔✔Deeper changes that alter system's rules or organization. System is
reorganized to achieve healthier longer-term functioning (Cybernetics)
Wiener & Bateson (theory) - ✔✔Cybernetics
,Complementary relationships - ✔✔Based on differences that fit together; behavior of one balances that
of the other
Symmetrical relationships - ✔✔Based on equality, behavior of one mirrors that of the other.
Bateson's Communication Theory - ✔✔Every communication has a support and command function,
communication most often goes wrong at the command level. Also posits that family systems naturally
resist change and demand structure.
Proxemic communication - ✔✔Spatial relations
Streptic Communication - ✔✔Sounds (e.g. claps, whistles).
Haptic (or symbolic) communication - ✔✔Touch
Paralinguistic communciation - ✔✔Tone, pace, inflection
Kinesthetic communication - ✔✔Body motion
Analogic communication (or "command") - ✔✔Symbolic or metaphorical meaning in message, speaks to
relationship dynamics (power, structure, responsibilities, roles, etc)
Digital communication (or "report") - ✔✔Content/data of a message stripped of meaning, often verbal
Social Exchange Theory - ✔✔People make decisions based on cost/benefit analysis - MAX benefits, MIN
costs. People experience pursuit to get close to others as they begin to maximize benefits.
Reframing (GST) - ✔✔Conflict in family is not due to one person, rather the whole family system is the
problem and focus
, Circular causality - ✔✔One person's behavior is caused by and causes another's, impacting each other in
a circular manner (Cybernetics)
Boundaries - ✔✔Abstract lines between parts of and whole systems, typically defined by implicit and
explicit rules (GST)
Closed system - ✔✔Systems that maintain boundaries and can't be easily crossed, impenetrable (GST)
Family life cycle (GST) - ✔✔Unattached young adult
Newly married
Family with young kids
Family with adolescents
Launching family
Family in later years
Duvall's 8 Stages of Family Life Cycle - ✔✔Stage 1: beginning families (married couple without children),
task- establish satisfying home/marriage.
Stage 2: Early child bearing. Task- adjusting to increased family size and caring for infant.
stage 3: families with preschoolers (oldest child is 2.5-6 y.o). Task- satisfying needs and interests of
preschool children.
Stage 4: families with school children. Task- supporting educational achievement and assimilation into
the community.
Stage 5: families with teens. Task- teach independence.
Stage 6: launching center families (young adult).
Stage 7: middle-aged families (moving toward retirement). Task- Renewing marriage.
Stage 8: aging families. Task- Adjusting to retirement and coping with death of spouse.
Identified patient - ✔✔The family member who manifests symptoms and is brought
in as the focus of treatment. This person is considered the scapegoat who is
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Ludwig von Bertalanffy (theory) - ✔✔General systems theory
General Systems Theory (GST): underpinnings - ✔✔The focus is on the relationship between individuals,
not individuals themselves (whole > sum of parts). Changes in one part will have effect on the other
parts.
Open systems - ✔✔Systems that allow flow of info from outside system (GST)
Non-summativity - ✔✔The family system is treated as a whole and not just each individual family
member
Homeostasis - ✔✔Systems tend to resist change and thus deal with issues by
keeping things the same rather than dealing with problems. It is maintained
through negative feedback and input loops. (GST)
Homeostasis is achieved by... - ✔✔Negative feedback loops (or sameness) (GST)
Family models/maps - ✔✔Individuals and system will consciously or unconsciously use models/maps to
manage boundaries and make sense of realities
Entropy - ✔✔Measure of disorder in a system if it is too open/closed, or BREAKING DOWN (GST)
Negative entropy - ✔✔System is balanced between open and closedness, info can enter or be screened
out as needed, or GROWTH (GST)
Equipotentiality - ✔✔Individual family
members sharing the same experiences within the system, but ending up with various results later in life
(cannot predict single outcome) (GST)
,Equifinality - ✔✔Individual family members arrive at the same result although they
began at different starting points (GST)
GST theory of change - ✔✔Change occurs when members of the system understand how their actions
and
communications affect the system as a whole. Once individuals have a greater
understanding of this, they can work more effectively together to optimize emotional and
social functioning of the system.
Positive feedback loops (amplifying) - ✔✔Variety in growth, info from outside of system that changes
homeostasis, risk for chaos (Cybernetics)
Negative feedback loops (attenuating) - ✔✔Constancy, info from outside of system that returns to
homeostasis, risk for rigidity (Cybernetics)
Morphogenesis - ✔✔A system's tendency towards growth and change, it can change its form while
maintaining balance (Cybernetics)
Morphogenesis is a result of... - ✔✔Positive feedback loops (Cybernetics)
Morphostasis - ✔✔System's tendency to maintain it's shape (Cybernetics)
First order change - ✔✔Temporary or surface level changes that don't affect rules or organization of
system. Behavioral changes that are not getting at underlying causes of issues. These changes tend to be
short-lived (Cybernetics)
Second order change - ✔✔Deeper changes that alter system's rules or organization. System is
reorganized to achieve healthier longer-term functioning (Cybernetics)
Wiener & Bateson (theory) - ✔✔Cybernetics
,Complementary relationships - ✔✔Based on differences that fit together; behavior of one balances that
of the other
Symmetrical relationships - ✔✔Based on equality, behavior of one mirrors that of the other.
Bateson's Communication Theory - ✔✔Every communication has a support and command function,
communication most often goes wrong at the command level. Also posits that family systems naturally
resist change and demand structure.
Proxemic communication - ✔✔Spatial relations
Streptic Communication - ✔✔Sounds (e.g. claps, whistles).
Haptic (or symbolic) communication - ✔✔Touch
Paralinguistic communciation - ✔✔Tone, pace, inflection
Kinesthetic communication - ✔✔Body motion
Analogic communication (or "command") - ✔✔Symbolic or metaphorical meaning in message, speaks to
relationship dynamics (power, structure, responsibilities, roles, etc)
Digital communication (or "report") - ✔✔Content/data of a message stripped of meaning, often verbal
Social Exchange Theory - ✔✔People make decisions based on cost/benefit analysis - MAX benefits, MIN
costs. People experience pursuit to get close to others as they begin to maximize benefits.
Reframing (GST) - ✔✔Conflict in family is not due to one person, rather the whole family system is the
problem and focus
, Circular causality - ✔✔One person's behavior is caused by and causes another's, impacting each other in
a circular manner (Cybernetics)
Boundaries - ✔✔Abstract lines between parts of and whole systems, typically defined by implicit and
explicit rules (GST)
Closed system - ✔✔Systems that maintain boundaries and can't be easily crossed, impenetrable (GST)
Family life cycle (GST) - ✔✔Unattached young adult
Newly married
Family with young kids
Family with adolescents
Launching family
Family in later years
Duvall's 8 Stages of Family Life Cycle - ✔✔Stage 1: beginning families (married couple without children),
task- establish satisfying home/marriage.
Stage 2: Early child bearing. Task- adjusting to increased family size and caring for infant.
stage 3: families with preschoolers (oldest child is 2.5-6 y.o). Task- satisfying needs and interests of
preschool children.
Stage 4: families with school children. Task- supporting educational achievement and assimilation into
the community.
Stage 5: families with teens. Task- teach independence.
Stage 6: launching center families (young adult).
Stage 7: middle-aged families (moving toward retirement). Task- Renewing marriage.
Stage 8: aging families. Task- Adjusting to retirement and coping with death of spouse.
Identified patient - ✔✔The family member who manifests symptoms and is brought
in as the focus of treatment. This person is considered the scapegoat who is
