BSW LICENSE EXAM STUDY GUIDE
The Biological Person - Answer -The body's biochemical, cell, organ, and physiological
systems. Nervous system, endocrine system, immune system, cardiovascular system,
musculoskeletal system, reproductive system.
The Psychological Person - Answer -The mind and the mental processes. Cognition
(conscious thinking processes), emotion (feelings), self (identity).
The Spiritual Person - Answer -The aspect of the person that searches for meaning
and purpose in life,. Themes of morality, ethics, justice, interconnectedness, creativity,
mystical states, prayer, meditation and contemplation, relationships with a higher power.
The Physical Environment: - Answer -The natural and human-built material aspects of
the environment. Water, sun, trees, buildings, landscapes.
Culture - Answer -A set of common understandings, evident in both behavior and
material artifacts. Beliefs, customs, traditions, values.
Social Institutions - Answer -Patterned ways of organizing social relationships in a
particular sector of social life, Family, religion, government, economy, education, social
welfare, health care, mass media.
Social Structure - Answer -A set of interrelated social institutions developed by humans
to impose constraints on human interaction for the purpose of the survival and well
being of the collectivity. Social class.
Dyads - Answer -Two persons bound together in some way. Parent and child, romantic
couple, social worker and client.
Families - Answer -Groupings of two or more people who define themselves as family
and assume obligations to one another. Nuclear family, extended family, fictive kin.
Small Group - Answer -Collections of people who interact with each other, perceive
themselves as belonging to a group, are interdependent, join together to accomplish a
goal, fulfill a need through joint association or are influenced by a set of rules and
norms. Friendship group, self help group, therapy group, committee task group,
interdisciplinary team.
Formal Organizations - Answer -Collectivities of people, with a high degree of formality
of structure, working together to meet a goal or goals. Civic and social service
organizations, business organizations, professional associations.
Communities - Answer -People bound either by geography or by network links (webs of
communication), sharing common ties, and interacting with one another. Territorial
, communities such as neighborhoods, relational communities such as the social work
community, the disability community, a faith community, a soccer league.
Social Movements - Answer -Large scale collective actions to make change or resist
change, in specific social institutions, Civil rights movement, poor people's movements,
disability movement, gay rights movement.
Trends - Answer -Long term patterns of change that move in a general direction. Trend
toward greater ethnic diversity in the United States, trend toward delayed childbearing in
advanced industrial countries, trend toward greater income inequality between sub-
Saharan Africa and the rest of the world.
Cycles - Answer -Short term patterns of change that reverse direction repetitively. A
weekly cycle of work interspersed with rest and relaxation. Economic downturns and
upturns.
Shifts - Answer -Sudden abrupt changes of direction. Changes in patterns of living
following a major loss. Changes in the physical and social environment following a
natural disaster (hurricane, flood, earthquake) or human made disaster such as
September 11, 2001.
Linear Time - Answer -Time in terms of a straight line. Past, present, future.
Acculturation - Answer -A process of changing one's culture by incorporating elements
of another culture.
Service - Answer -Social worker's primary goal is to help people in need and to address
social problems. Social workers elevate service to others above self interest. Social
workers draw on their knowledge, values, and skills to help people in need and to
address social problems. Social workers are encouraged to volunteer some portion of
their professional skills with no expectation of significant financial return.
Social Justice - Answer -Social workers challenge social justice. Social workers pursue
social change, particularly with and on behalf of vulnerable and oppressed individuals
and groups of people. Social workers' social change efforts are focused primarily on
issues of poverty, unemployment, discrimination, and other forms of social injustice.
These activities seek to promote sensitivity to needed information, services, and
resources; equally of opportunity and meaningful participation in decision making of
people.
Dignity and Worth of the Person - Answer -Social workers respect the inherent dignity
and worth of the person. Social workers treat each person in a caring and respectful
fashion, mindful of individual differences and cultural and ethnic diversity. Social
workers promote clients' socially responsible self determination. Social workers are
cognizant of their dual responsibility to clients and to the broader society. They seek to
resolve conflicts between clients' interests and the broader society's interests in a
The Biological Person - Answer -The body's biochemical, cell, organ, and physiological
systems. Nervous system, endocrine system, immune system, cardiovascular system,
musculoskeletal system, reproductive system.
The Psychological Person - Answer -The mind and the mental processes. Cognition
(conscious thinking processes), emotion (feelings), self (identity).
The Spiritual Person - Answer -The aspect of the person that searches for meaning
and purpose in life,. Themes of morality, ethics, justice, interconnectedness, creativity,
mystical states, prayer, meditation and contemplation, relationships with a higher power.
The Physical Environment: - Answer -The natural and human-built material aspects of
the environment. Water, sun, trees, buildings, landscapes.
Culture - Answer -A set of common understandings, evident in both behavior and
material artifacts. Beliefs, customs, traditions, values.
Social Institutions - Answer -Patterned ways of organizing social relationships in a
particular sector of social life, Family, religion, government, economy, education, social
welfare, health care, mass media.
Social Structure - Answer -A set of interrelated social institutions developed by humans
to impose constraints on human interaction for the purpose of the survival and well
being of the collectivity. Social class.
Dyads - Answer -Two persons bound together in some way. Parent and child, romantic
couple, social worker and client.
Families - Answer -Groupings of two or more people who define themselves as family
and assume obligations to one another. Nuclear family, extended family, fictive kin.
Small Group - Answer -Collections of people who interact with each other, perceive
themselves as belonging to a group, are interdependent, join together to accomplish a
goal, fulfill a need through joint association or are influenced by a set of rules and
norms. Friendship group, self help group, therapy group, committee task group,
interdisciplinary team.
Formal Organizations - Answer -Collectivities of people, with a high degree of formality
of structure, working together to meet a goal or goals. Civic and social service
organizations, business organizations, professional associations.
Communities - Answer -People bound either by geography or by network links (webs of
communication), sharing common ties, and interacting with one another. Territorial
, communities such as neighborhoods, relational communities such as the social work
community, the disability community, a faith community, a soccer league.
Social Movements - Answer -Large scale collective actions to make change or resist
change, in specific social institutions, Civil rights movement, poor people's movements,
disability movement, gay rights movement.
Trends - Answer -Long term patterns of change that move in a general direction. Trend
toward greater ethnic diversity in the United States, trend toward delayed childbearing in
advanced industrial countries, trend toward greater income inequality between sub-
Saharan Africa and the rest of the world.
Cycles - Answer -Short term patterns of change that reverse direction repetitively. A
weekly cycle of work interspersed with rest and relaxation. Economic downturns and
upturns.
Shifts - Answer -Sudden abrupt changes of direction. Changes in patterns of living
following a major loss. Changes in the physical and social environment following a
natural disaster (hurricane, flood, earthquake) or human made disaster such as
September 11, 2001.
Linear Time - Answer -Time in terms of a straight line. Past, present, future.
Acculturation - Answer -A process of changing one's culture by incorporating elements
of another culture.
Service - Answer -Social worker's primary goal is to help people in need and to address
social problems. Social workers elevate service to others above self interest. Social
workers draw on their knowledge, values, and skills to help people in need and to
address social problems. Social workers are encouraged to volunteer some portion of
their professional skills with no expectation of significant financial return.
Social Justice - Answer -Social workers challenge social justice. Social workers pursue
social change, particularly with and on behalf of vulnerable and oppressed individuals
and groups of people. Social workers' social change efforts are focused primarily on
issues of poverty, unemployment, discrimination, and other forms of social injustice.
These activities seek to promote sensitivity to needed information, services, and
resources; equally of opportunity and meaningful participation in decision making of
people.
Dignity and Worth of the Person - Answer -Social workers respect the inherent dignity
and worth of the person. Social workers treat each person in a caring and respectful
fashion, mindful of individual differences and cultural and ethnic diversity. Social
workers promote clients' socially responsible self determination. Social workers are
cognizant of their dual responsibility to clients and to the broader society. They seek to
resolve conflicts between clients' interests and the broader society's interests in a
