ASWB LMSW EXAM FULL ACTUAL EXAM
PAPER 2026 QUESTIONS WITH ANSWERS
GRADED A+
◉ Freud"s Psychoanalytic Theory. Answer: Behavior is influenced by
environmental stimuli, external social constraints/constructs, and
unconscious elements.
◉ What are the four unconscious elements. Answer: Covert desires
Defenses needed to protect, facilitate, and moderate behaviors
Dreams
Unconscious wishes
◉ Define the three levels of the mind.. Answer: Conscious Mind:
ideas and thoughts; fully aware
Pre-conscious Mind: ideas and thoughts outside of immediate
awareness; readily accessible
Unconscious Mind: ideas and thoughts outside of our awareness that
cannot be accessed.
◉ What is the primary focus of psychoanalysis?. Answer: On the
unconscious mind and the desires, defenses, and wishes within it.
Focuses also on the past.
,◉ ID. Answer: Basic instinctual drives; present at birth; seeks
immediate gratification of primitive needs.
Adheres to "pleasure principle."
◉ Ego. Answer: Rational thought, executive functions, ability to
delay gratification.
Governed by "reality principle." Mediates ID.
◉ Super-ego. Answer: Concepts of morality, ethics, and justice into
personality. Concepts of right, wrong, and greater good. Includes the
conscience and ego ideal.
◉ Conscience. Answer: Part of the super-ego.
Focuses on cognitive and behavioral restrictions (should-nots).
◉ Ego ideal. Answer: Part of the super-ego.
Focuses on perfection, spiritual attainment, and higher-order goals
(shoulds)
◉ Interaction of the ID, Ego, and Super-Ego. Answer: The strongest
part is the ego, which seeks to satisfy the needs of the Id without
disrupting the super-ego.
,◉ What are Freud's Psychosexual Stages of Development. Answer:
Oral (birth to 1.5 years)
Anal (1.5 to 3 years)
Phallic (3 to 6 years)
Latency (6 to 10 years)
Genital (10 to adult years)
◉ Oral Adult Personality. Answer: infantile, demanding, dependent
behavior; preoccupation with oral gratification.
◉ Anal Adult Personality Type. Answer: stinginess, excessive focus
on accumulating and collecting. Rigidity in routines and forms,
suspiciousness, legalistic thinking.
◉ Phallic Adult Personality Type. Answer: Selfish sexual exploitation
of others, without regard to their needs or concerns.
◉ Regression. Answer: When the developmental process falls back
to an earlier stage; defense mechanism.
◉ Cathexis. Answer: Psychic energy attached to an object of
importance OR urges, psychic impulses that drive human behavior
, ◉ Anti-Cathexis. Answer: The checking force; restricts the urges of
the id & keeps repressed information in the unconscious mind.
◉ Erikson's Psychosocial Stages of Development. Answer: Trust v
Mistrust (birth to 1.5 years)
Autonomy v Shame (1.5 to 3 years)
Initiative v Guilt (3 to 6 years)
Industry v Inferiority (6 to 11 years)
Identity v Role Confusion (Adolescence)
Intimacy v Isolation (early adulthood)
Generativity v Stagnation (adulthood)
Ego integrity v Despair (late adulthood)
◉ Trust v. Mistrust. Answer: - Birth to 1.5 years
- Develops trust in self and others.
- Psychological Dangers: mistrust that develops to withdrawal when
at odds with self/others.
◉ Autonomy v. Shame. Answer: - 1.5 to 3 years
- Rapid growth in muscular maturation, verbalization, coordinate
highly conflicting action patterns (holding on and letting go).
Identity building, courage to be independent individual.
PAPER 2026 QUESTIONS WITH ANSWERS
GRADED A+
◉ Freud"s Psychoanalytic Theory. Answer: Behavior is influenced by
environmental stimuli, external social constraints/constructs, and
unconscious elements.
◉ What are the four unconscious elements. Answer: Covert desires
Defenses needed to protect, facilitate, and moderate behaviors
Dreams
Unconscious wishes
◉ Define the three levels of the mind.. Answer: Conscious Mind:
ideas and thoughts; fully aware
Pre-conscious Mind: ideas and thoughts outside of immediate
awareness; readily accessible
Unconscious Mind: ideas and thoughts outside of our awareness that
cannot be accessed.
◉ What is the primary focus of psychoanalysis?. Answer: On the
unconscious mind and the desires, defenses, and wishes within it.
Focuses also on the past.
,◉ ID. Answer: Basic instinctual drives; present at birth; seeks
immediate gratification of primitive needs.
Adheres to "pleasure principle."
◉ Ego. Answer: Rational thought, executive functions, ability to
delay gratification.
Governed by "reality principle." Mediates ID.
◉ Super-ego. Answer: Concepts of morality, ethics, and justice into
personality. Concepts of right, wrong, and greater good. Includes the
conscience and ego ideal.
◉ Conscience. Answer: Part of the super-ego.
Focuses on cognitive and behavioral restrictions (should-nots).
◉ Ego ideal. Answer: Part of the super-ego.
Focuses on perfection, spiritual attainment, and higher-order goals
(shoulds)
◉ Interaction of the ID, Ego, and Super-Ego. Answer: The strongest
part is the ego, which seeks to satisfy the needs of the Id without
disrupting the super-ego.
,◉ What are Freud's Psychosexual Stages of Development. Answer:
Oral (birth to 1.5 years)
Anal (1.5 to 3 years)
Phallic (3 to 6 years)
Latency (6 to 10 years)
Genital (10 to adult years)
◉ Oral Adult Personality. Answer: infantile, demanding, dependent
behavior; preoccupation with oral gratification.
◉ Anal Adult Personality Type. Answer: stinginess, excessive focus
on accumulating and collecting. Rigidity in routines and forms,
suspiciousness, legalistic thinking.
◉ Phallic Adult Personality Type. Answer: Selfish sexual exploitation
of others, without regard to their needs or concerns.
◉ Regression. Answer: When the developmental process falls back
to an earlier stage; defense mechanism.
◉ Cathexis. Answer: Psychic energy attached to an object of
importance OR urges, psychic impulses that drive human behavior
, ◉ Anti-Cathexis. Answer: The checking force; restricts the urges of
the id & keeps repressed information in the unconscious mind.
◉ Erikson's Psychosocial Stages of Development. Answer: Trust v
Mistrust (birth to 1.5 years)
Autonomy v Shame (1.5 to 3 years)
Initiative v Guilt (3 to 6 years)
Industry v Inferiority (6 to 11 years)
Identity v Role Confusion (Adolescence)
Intimacy v Isolation (early adulthood)
Generativity v Stagnation (adulthood)
Ego integrity v Despair (late adulthood)
◉ Trust v. Mistrust. Answer: - Birth to 1.5 years
- Develops trust in self and others.
- Psychological Dangers: mistrust that develops to withdrawal when
at odds with self/others.
◉ Autonomy v. Shame. Answer: - 1.5 to 3 years
- Rapid growth in muscular maturation, verbalization, coordinate
highly conflicting action patterns (holding on and letting go).
Identity building, courage to be independent individual.
