Choose the correct answer:
A middle-aged client reports feeling “invisible” and unneeded since his children left home. He denies depression but feels lost about purpose.
- A. A depressive disorder masked by denial
- B. A normative life transition requiring role redefinition
- C. A maladaptive fixation on earlier attachment stages
B. A normative life transition requiring role redefinition
This reflects Erikson’s generativity vs. stagnation stage. The emptiness of purpose signals a developmental transition, not pathology.
Choose the correct answer:
A 7-year-old resists directions and interrupts sessions. The social worker’s best understanding is:
- A. Acting-out defense masking anxiety
- B. Normal boundary testing tied to latency-age autonomy
- C. Early conduct disorder symptoms
B. Normal boundary testing tied to latency-age autonomy
At this age, testing authority is developmentally typical; labeling pathology too early risks overdiagnosis.
Choose the correct answer:
A 15-year-old from a collectivist culture insists on independent decision-making, while parents expect to decide for her. The social worker should first:
- A. Support the teen’s autonomy per Western norms
- B. Refer the family to legal mediation
- C. Explore the cultural meanings of independence and obligation
C. Explore the cultural meanings of independence and obligation
Begin with culturally responsive assessment; imposing Western ideals risks bias.
Choose the correct answer:
A survivor of domestic violence expresses both nightmares and gratitude for survival. The social worker should recognize:
- A. Posttraumatic growth coexisting with symptoms
- B. Emotional numbing typical of complex PTSD
- C. Denial of trauma intensity
A. Posttraumatic growth coexisting with symptoms
Clients may show gratitude and trauma simultaneously; recognizing this resilience supports recovery.
Choose the correct answer:
A client denied disability benefits expresses intense anger at “the system.” The most accurate formulation is:
- A. Normal anger tied to grief and injustice
- B. Personality pathology
- C. Displacement of personal guilt
A. Normal anger tied to grief and injustice
The anger represents a normal response to loss of control and perceived injustice, not a maladaptive defense.
Choose the correct answer:
A 7-year-old proudly shows the social worker her spelling test and says, “I’m the best in my class!”
- A. Trust vs. mistrust
- B. Initiative vs. guilt
- C. Industry vs. inferiority
C. Industry vs. inferiority
In middle childhood, competence and achievement define Erikson’s industry stage. Positive reinforcement supports confidence; discouragement fosters inferiority.
Choose the correct answer:
According to Piaget, a child who can classify objects, perform mental operations, and understand conservation of volume is in which stage?
- A. Formal operational
- B. Concrete operational
- C. Preoperational
B. Concrete operational
Concrete operational thinkers (ages 7–11) can use logic and grasp conservation but still rely on tangible examples rather than abstract reasoning.
Choose the correct answer:
A teenager struggles to establish values separate from his parents.
- A. Initiative vs. guilt
- B. Intimacy vs. isolation
- C. Identity vs. role confusion
C. Identity vs. role confusion
Adolescence centers on developing personal identity. Confusion occurs when family and social roles conflict or when exploration is suppressed.
Choose the correct answer:
A 35-year-old expresses boredom and restlessness, questioning the meaning of work and family life.
- A. Industry vs. inferiority
- B. Intimacy vs. isolation
- C. Generativity vs. stagnation
C. Generativity vs. stagnation
In midlife, individuals seek purpose through contribution and mentorship. Failure to find meaning leads to stagnation or self-absorption.
Choose the correct answer:
An elderly woman reflects on her life with peace and acceptance.
- A. Ego integrity vs. despair
- B. Initiative vs. guilt
- C. Intimacy vs. isolation
A. Ego integrity vs. despair
Successful resolution of Erikson’s final stage involves acceptance of one’s life course without excessive regret.
Choose the correct answer:
A 10-month-old cries when his mother leaves but calms quickly when she returns.
- A. Disorganized attachment
- B. Avoidant attachment
- C. Secure attachment
C. Secure attachment
Securely attached infants protest separation yet are easily soothed upon reunion, reflecting a healthy balance of dependence and autonomy.
Choose the correct answer:
A preschooler says, “If I’m good, Santa will bring me presents.” This reflects which of Kohlberg’s stages?
- A. Preconventional morality
- B. Conventional morality
- C. Postconventional morality
A. Preconventional morality
At this stage, moral reasoning is guided by reward and punishment rather than internalized principles.
Choose the correct answer:
A client from a collectivist culture prioritizes family harmony over individual goals. The social worker should:
- A. Diagnose dependency traits.
- B. Encourage independence as a sign of progress.
- C. Recognize this as a cultural value and integrate it into planning.
C. Recognize this as a cultural value and integrate it into planning.
Cultural humility involves respecting values such as interdependence, reframing them as strengths rather than pathology.
Choose the correct answer:
A 6-year-old from an immigrant family is silent in class but talkative at home.
- A. Oppositional Defiant Disorder
- B. Selective Mutism related to acculturative stress
- C. Social Anxiety Disorder
B. Selective Mutism related to acculturative stress
Selective mutism often emerges in children navigating linguistic or cultural transitions. The silence is context-specific and anxiety-driven, not oppositional.
Choose the correct answer:
A 9-year-old begins wetting the bed again after witnessing domestic violence.
- A. Enuresis unrelated to trauma
- B. Conduct Disorder
- C. Normal regression due to stress
C. Normal regression due to stress
Regressive behaviors are common after trauma in children and reflect temporary coping responses. Addressing safety and stability is the first step before deeper therapy.
Choose the correct answer:
A client recently diagnosed with HIV reports feeling hopeless and withdrawing socially.
- A. Refer immediately to a psychiatrist.
- B. Begin group therapy without assessment.
- C. Assess for suicidal ideation and social support.
C. Assess for suicidal ideation and social support.
Chronic illness often triggers depression or suicidal ideation. Immediate assessment and connection to social networks promote adjustment and resilience.
Choose the correct answer:
A 15-year-old experiences anxiety and confusion about sexual orientation. The social worker should:
- A. Diagnose gender dysphoria.
- B. Normalize exploration and provide a safe, affirming environment.
- C. Recommend immediate family confrontation.
B. Normalize exploration and provide a safe, affirming environment.
Adolescent sexual identity formation is a developmental process. Affirmation and support prevent internalized stigma and risk of depression.
Choose the correct answer:
A social worker notices that African American clients consistently receive fewer referrals for advanced treatment options. The worker should:
- A. Examine potential institutional bias and advocate for equity.
- B. Ignore disparities to maintain neutrality.
- C. Attribute differences to cultural preferences.
A. Examine potential institutional bias and advocate for equity.
Systemic oppression and implicit bias contribute to unequal service access. Ethical practice requires identifying and addressing structural barriers.
Choose the correct answer:
A client from a collectivist culture feels guilt for wanting to move away for a job opportunity. What is the MOST culturally responsive intervention?
- A. Interpret guilt as pathological.
- B. Encourage individual autonomy as primary.
- C. Explore cultural values of loyalty and independence.
C. Explore cultural values of loyalty and independence.
Balancing cultural expectations and personal goals requires culturally responsive exploration, not imposition of Western individualism.
Choose the correct answer:
A single mother experiencing poverty describes feeling “trapped” and powerless. The social worker should:
- A. Avoid discussing systemic issues.
- B. Use empowerment-based interventions to build efficacy.
- C. Focus only on symptom reduction.
B. Use empowerment-based interventions to build efficacy.
Empowerment approaches address both internalized helplessness and external structural barriers, fostering self-determination and advocacy skills.
Choose the correct answer:
A refugee client experiences nightmares, hypervigilance, and difficulty trusting others.
- A. Diagnose psychosis.
- B. Begin deep trauma narrative immediately.
- C. Assess for Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder and provide trauma-informed care.
C. Assess for Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder and provide trauma-informed care.
Symptoms reflect re-experiencing and arousal consistent with PTSD. Trauma-informed approaches prioritize safety, empowerment, and trustworthiness.
Choose the correct answer:
A client says she believes her depression is punishment from God.
- A. Avoid discussing religion to maintain neutrality.
- B. Explore the client’s spiritual framework as a coping or meaning system.
- C. Challenge the belief immediately.
B. Explore the client’s spiritual framework as a coping or meaning system.
Spiritual beliefs often influence meaning-making and resilience. The clinician explores rather than dismisses or endorses, maintaining curiosity and respect.
Choose the correct answer:
A young adult from a marginalized racial group reports feeling invisible and exhausted by workplace microaggressions.
- A. Validate the experience of racial trauma and explore coping strategies.
- B. Encourage ignoring the incidents to reduce stress.
- C. Suggest the client is being overly sensitive.
A. Validate the experience of racial trauma and explore coping strategies.
Acknowledging racism-related stress normalizes the experience and strengthens the client’s sense of agency and self-worth. Minimizing or invalidating perpetuates harm.
Choose the correct answer:
A 70-year-old client newly retired reports loneliness and loss of routine.
- A. Encourage isolation for rest.
- B. Assist in identifying new roles and activities that provide meaning.
- C. Focus only on grief counseling.
B. Assist in identifying new roles and activities that provide meaning.
Role transition and identity restructuring are normal in later adulthood. Supporting new sources of purpose promotes psychosocial adjustment and life satisfaction.
