ASWB LMSW EXAM (FULL) STUDY GUIDE
Erik Erikson - Answers-known for his 8-stage theory of psychosocial development
focusing on resolving successive identity crises
Basic Trust Vs Mistrust (Erikson) - Answers-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) - Answers-toddlers learn to do things for
themselves through encouragement and support (1-3 years)
Initiative Vs Guilt (Erikson) - Answers-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) - Answers-school-age children learn the pleasure of
applying oneself to a task, or they feel inferior (6-12 years)
Identity Vs Role Confusion (Erikson) - Answers-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) - Answers-young adults work on forming and maintaining
intimate relationships or they feel socially isolated (20-25 years)
Generativity Vs Stagnation (Erikson) - Answers-middle-aged adults discover a sense of
contributing through family or work, or they may feel a lack of purpose (25-65 years)
Six Levels of Cognition - Answers-knowledge, comprehension, application, analysis,
synthesis, evaluation (KCAASE)
Knowledge - Answers-rote memorization, recognition, recall of facts (1st level of
cognition)
Comprehension - Answers-understanding what facts mean (2nd level of cognition)
Application - Answers-correct use of facts, rules, or ideas (3rd level of cognition)
Analysis - Answers-breaking information down into its component parts (4th level of
cognition)
Synthesis - Answers-combination of facts, ideas, or information to make a new whole
(5th level of cognition)
Evaluation - Answers-judging or forming an opinion about the information or situation
(6th level of cognition)
,Jean Piaget - Answers-known for his 4-stage theory of cognitive development in
children
Sensorimotor Stage (Piaget) - Answers-infants and young toddlers explore using the
senses and learn object permanence (birth to 2 years)
Preoperational Stage (Piaget) - Answers-young children engage in symbolic thinking
(pretend play and imaginary friends) and concrete, egocentric thinking (2-7 years)
Concrete Operations Stage (Piaget) - Answers-school-age children engage in logical
thinking, understanding rules and cause-effect relationships (7-11 years)
Formal Operations Stage (Piaget) - Answers-by puberty, people are able to engage in
abstract hypothetical thinking, plan for the future, and test hypotheses (11 years through
adulthood)
Lawrence Kohlberg - Answers-known for his theory of stages of moral development
Preconventional Morality (Kohlberg) - Answers-obeys authority out of fear of
punishment; acts in own best interests; conforms to receive rewards (childhood)
Conventional Morality (Kohlberg) - Answers-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) - Answers-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 - Answers-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
Ego Integrity Vs Despair (Erikson) - Answers-older adults reflect on satisfaction with
their lives or feel a sense of failure (65 years to death)
Social Development - Micro - Answers-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 - Answers-learning how people interact in groups and
society (family, community), especially in regards to social norms, institutional change,
and inclusion
,Emotional Development - Answers-learning self-awareness, self-regulation, social skills,
cooperation, attention, transitioning from one activity to another, self-confidence,
forming and maintaining relationships
Learning Theory - Cognitive Theory - Answers-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 - Answers-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 - Answers-learning is obtained between people and
their environment--their interactions and observations in social contexts; establish
opportunities for conversation and participation
Respondent Behavior (Behaviorism) - Answers-involuntary behavior (anxiety, sexual
response) that is automatically elicited by certain behavior. A stimulus elicits a response.
Operant Behavior (Behaviorism) - Answers-voluntary behavior (walking, talking) that is
controlled by its consequences in the environment
Classical Conditioning - Answers-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 - Answers-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 - Answers-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... - Answers-interaction
between the individual and the environment
Behavioral theories focus on... - Answers-observable and measurable behaviors rather
than internal thoughts and feelings
advantages of client self-monitoring (Behaviorism) - Answers-inexpensive, practical,
therapeutic
disadvantages of client self-monitoring (Behaviorism) - Answers-clients collecting
inadequate/inaccurate information or resisting to collect any at all
, Positive Reinforcement (Operant Technique) - Answers-increases probability that
behavior will occur: praise, giving tokens, or otherwise rewarding positive behavior
Negative Reinforcement (Operant Technique) - Answers-behavior increases because a
negative/aversive stimulus is removed (i.e., remove shock)
Positive Punishment (Operant Technique) - Answers-presentation of undesirable
stimulus following a behavior for the purpose of decreasing or eliminating that behavior
(i.e., spanking)
Negative Punishment (Operant Technique) - Answers-removal of a desirable stimulus
following a behavior for the purpose of decreasing or eliminating that behavior (i.e., time
out)
Aversion Therapy - Answers-behavioral treatment aimed at reducing the attractiveness
of a stimulus or behavior by pairing it with an aversive stimulus (i.e., treating alcoholism
with Antabuse)
Biofeedback - Answers-behavior training program that teaches a person how to control
certain functions such as heart rate, blood pressure, temperature, and muscle tension;
often used for ADHD and Anxiety Disorders
Extinction - Answers-withholding a reinforcer that normally follows a behavior; behavior
that fails to produce reinforcement will eventually cease
Flooding - Answers-a treatment procedure in which a client's anxiety is extinguished by
prolonged real or imagined exposure to high-intensity feared stimuli
In Vivo Desensitization - Answers-pairing and movement through a hierarchy of anxiety,
from least to most anxiety provoking situations; takes place in "real" settings
Modeling (Behaviorism) - Answers-method of instruction that involves an individual (the
model) demonstrating a behavior to be acquired by a client
Rational Emotive Therapy (RET) - Answers-a cognitively-oriented therapy which seeks
to change a client's irrational beliefs by argument, persuasion, and rational reevaluation
and by teaching them to counter self-defeating thinking with new, nondistressing self-
statements
Shaping (Behaviorism) - Answers-method used to train a new behavior by prompting
and reinforcing successive approximations of the desired behavior
Systematic Desensitization - Answers-pairs anxiety-producing stimulus with a
relaxation-producing response (compliment, gift), since an anxiety-inhibiting response
cannot occur at the same time as the anxiety response
Erik Erikson - Answers-known for his 8-stage theory of psychosocial development
focusing on resolving successive identity crises
Basic Trust Vs Mistrust (Erikson) - Answers-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) - Answers-toddlers learn to do things for
themselves through encouragement and support (1-3 years)
Initiative Vs Guilt (Erikson) - Answers-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) - Answers-school-age children learn the pleasure of
applying oneself to a task, or they feel inferior (6-12 years)
Identity Vs Role Confusion (Erikson) - Answers-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) - Answers-young adults work on forming and maintaining
intimate relationships or they feel socially isolated (20-25 years)
Generativity Vs Stagnation (Erikson) - Answers-middle-aged adults discover a sense of
contributing through family or work, or they may feel a lack of purpose (25-65 years)
Six Levels of Cognition - Answers-knowledge, comprehension, application, analysis,
synthesis, evaluation (KCAASE)
Knowledge - Answers-rote memorization, recognition, recall of facts (1st level of
cognition)
Comprehension - Answers-understanding what facts mean (2nd level of cognition)
Application - Answers-correct use of facts, rules, or ideas (3rd level of cognition)
Analysis - Answers-breaking information down into its component parts (4th level of
cognition)
Synthesis - Answers-combination of facts, ideas, or information to make a new whole
(5th level of cognition)
Evaluation - Answers-judging or forming an opinion about the information or situation
(6th level of cognition)
,Jean Piaget - Answers-known for his 4-stage theory of cognitive development in
children
Sensorimotor Stage (Piaget) - Answers-infants and young toddlers explore using the
senses and learn object permanence (birth to 2 years)
Preoperational Stage (Piaget) - Answers-young children engage in symbolic thinking
(pretend play and imaginary friends) and concrete, egocentric thinking (2-7 years)
Concrete Operations Stage (Piaget) - Answers-school-age children engage in logical
thinking, understanding rules and cause-effect relationships (7-11 years)
Formal Operations Stage (Piaget) - Answers-by puberty, people are able to engage in
abstract hypothetical thinking, plan for the future, and test hypotheses (11 years through
adulthood)
Lawrence Kohlberg - Answers-known for his theory of stages of moral development
Preconventional Morality (Kohlberg) - Answers-obeys authority out of fear of
punishment; acts in own best interests; conforms to receive rewards (childhood)
Conventional Morality (Kohlberg) - Answers-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) - Answers-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 - Answers-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
Ego Integrity Vs Despair (Erikson) - Answers-older adults reflect on satisfaction with
their lives or feel a sense of failure (65 years to death)
Social Development - Micro - Answers-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 - Answers-learning how people interact in groups and
society (family, community), especially in regards to social norms, institutional change,
and inclusion
,Emotional Development - Answers-learning self-awareness, self-regulation, social skills,
cooperation, attention, transitioning from one activity to another, self-confidence,
forming and maintaining relationships
Learning Theory - Cognitive Theory - Answers-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 - Answers-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 - Answers-learning is obtained between people and
their environment--their interactions and observations in social contexts; establish
opportunities for conversation and participation
Respondent Behavior (Behaviorism) - Answers-involuntary behavior (anxiety, sexual
response) that is automatically elicited by certain behavior. A stimulus elicits a response.
Operant Behavior (Behaviorism) - Answers-voluntary behavior (walking, talking) that is
controlled by its consequences in the environment
Classical Conditioning - Answers-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 - Answers-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 - Answers-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... - Answers-interaction
between the individual and the environment
Behavioral theories focus on... - Answers-observable and measurable behaviors rather
than internal thoughts and feelings
advantages of client self-monitoring (Behaviorism) - Answers-inexpensive, practical,
therapeutic
disadvantages of client self-monitoring (Behaviorism) - Answers-clients collecting
inadequate/inaccurate information or resisting to collect any at all
, Positive Reinforcement (Operant Technique) - Answers-increases probability that
behavior will occur: praise, giving tokens, or otherwise rewarding positive behavior
Negative Reinforcement (Operant Technique) - Answers-behavior increases because a
negative/aversive stimulus is removed (i.e., remove shock)
Positive Punishment (Operant Technique) - Answers-presentation of undesirable
stimulus following a behavior for the purpose of decreasing or eliminating that behavior
(i.e., spanking)
Negative Punishment (Operant Technique) - Answers-removal of a desirable stimulus
following a behavior for the purpose of decreasing or eliminating that behavior (i.e., time
out)
Aversion Therapy - Answers-behavioral treatment aimed at reducing the attractiveness
of a stimulus or behavior by pairing it with an aversive stimulus (i.e., treating alcoholism
with Antabuse)
Biofeedback - Answers-behavior training program that teaches a person how to control
certain functions such as heart rate, blood pressure, temperature, and muscle tension;
often used for ADHD and Anxiety Disorders
Extinction - Answers-withholding a reinforcer that normally follows a behavior; behavior
that fails to produce reinforcement will eventually cease
Flooding - Answers-a treatment procedure in which a client's anxiety is extinguished by
prolonged real or imagined exposure to high-intensity feared stimuli
In Vivo Desensitization - Answers-pairing and movement through a hierarchy of anxiety,
from least to most anxiety provoking situations; takes place in "real" settings
Modeling (Behaviorism) - Answers-method of instruction that involves an individual (the
model) demonstrating a behavior to be acquired by a client
Rational Emotive Therapy (RET) - Answers-a cognitively-oriented therapy which seeks
to change a client's irrational beliefs by argument, persuasion, and rational reevaluation
and by teaching them to counter self-defeating thinking with new, nondistressing self-
statements
Shaping (Behaviorism) - Answers-method used to train a new behavior by prompting
and reinforcing successive approximations of the desired behavior
Systematic Desensitization - Answers-pairs anxiety-producing stimulus with a
relaxation-producing response (compliment, gift), since an anxiety-inhibiting response
cannot occur at the same time as the anxiety response
