Practice Quizzes from Adelphi Flashcards
When a social worker uses an empathetic response, she is attempting to
A. Build a relationship with the client
B. Develop confidence
C. Be sympathetic
D. Provide accurate listening
A. Build a relationship with the client
During an intake interview at a mental health center, a 22-year-old client who is being evaluated as a suicide risk leaves the office where the evaluation is taking place and walks out the door. The social worker’s first course of action is to
A. Try to reach the client later that day so as to give him time to adjust
B. Wait until the client tries to contact the social worker, as a means of establishing boundaries
C. Notify the police
D. Notify the client’s family if known
C. Notify the police
You are working with a new client who has just come into your office and has begun a very detailed description of the events which have culminated in her current crisis and the need for your services. During her description, which of the following behaviors are not considered appropriate?
A. When she is done speaking, summarize everything she has said
B. Using body gestures, like, leaning forward and nodding
C. Interrupting her narrative when you feel you need to clarify details
D. Encouraging her with phrases, like, “go on” and “um-hum”
C. Interrupting her narrative when you feel you need to clarify details
In an initial interview, a client becomes belligerent and threatening for no apparent reason. The social worker should first
A. Calls security
B. Share his or her concern with the client
C. Firmly tell the client to quiet down
D. Ask the client to reschedule for another time
B. Share his or her concern with the client
You have just begun an initial session with a battered woman who is just starting to tell you about the story and history of abuse. The best thing you can do as a therapist is
A. During her disclosure, ask her leading questions as a method of eliciting as much information as possible and to let her know you are supportive of her situation.
B. Simply listen to her story and do not offer advice or suggestions.
C. Stop her at different times during her discussion and provide her with an interpretation of her nonverbal behavior and statements to assist her in becoming more self-aware
D. Provide her with information about other domestic violence victims you have worked with in order to help her understand you are empathetic to her situation.
B. Simply listen to her story and do not offer advice or suggestions.
A 30-year-old woman appears at a family service agency walk-in. She has just come from the emergency room where she received care for a broken rib and a badly beaten face. She states that she has been beaten by her husband but she does not want to go to a shelter since her children are due home from school in an hour and she wants to be home with them. What is the first thing the social worker should do?
A. Contact the police
B. Take the woman to the shelter
C. Aid the woman in going home to get her children
D. Have the children picked up and get the woman to a shelter
D. Have the children picked up and get the woman to a shelter
While undertaking grief counseling with a woman whose child has recently died, the social workers is most likely to do the following in the first session
A. Prescribe medication
B. Testing
C. Intervention
D. Assessment
D. Assessment
While working with an elderly patient on a home-health basis, the social worker becomes aware that she has developed numerous bruises on her legs. When the social worker asks about the bruises, the patient states that she often hits her legs with her walker when she is trying to get around. The social worker knows that she has used this walker for almost 2 years and has not had thi problem before. The social worker is also aware that her daughter, who is her sole caretaker, has appeared very stressed out when she has run into her at her mother’s home. The social worker needs to
A. Assess for elder abuse
B. Have the walker examined
C. Accept the client’s explanation
D. Have a private meeting with the daughter
A. Assess for elder abuse
A counselor at a local high school contacts a social worker in the child welfare protection agency and describes the situation of a 14-year-old girl reporting sexual abuse by her father. The social worker’s first step should be to
A. Interview the child immediately
B. Contact the family
C. Contact the police
D. Remove the child from the home
A. Interview the child immediately
You accept a referral from an agency on a 65-year-old male client. During the initial interview you learn he has been physically abusive to his wife of 40 years and he appears very depressed. He relayed that 2 of his children will not talk to hum and did not call him for his birthday this year. You quickly find you dislike this client intensely and have difficulty feeling empathy for him and his situation. That evening after the session you realize he reminds you of your spouse’s step-father who was abusive to your spouse during their childhood. You should
A. Accept your feelings as part of the therapeutic process when working with abusers
B. Talk to your supervisor about your reactions toward this client
C. Continue your sessions with the client and ignore your feelings
D. Share your feelings with the client
B. Talk to your supervisor about your reactions toward this client
Holly is going to meet a client for the first time. She plans to do a biopsychosocial history on the client in order to learn more about him. Holly asks her client to bring collateral data, such as medical records, pictures of family, and other information to their appointment. Why is collateral data important?
A. It helps fill gaps for biopsychosocial history that a client might leave out
B. It helps to show if the client is being honest during the biopsychosocial assessment
C. It provides information from family members to reveal their observations of the client
D. It helps Holly make observations about who in the clients family he is most like
A. It helps fill gaps for biopsychosocial history that a client might leave out
A female client comes to see a social worker to discuss her relationship issues. According to the psychosocial perspective, the social worker should
A. Refer to a marriage and family therapist
B. Have her tell you about the issues affecting her life
C. Begin training behavioral techniques
D. Provide a referral to a psychologist for testing
B. Have her tell you about the issues affecting her life
A newly graduated social worker has taken employment in a youth corrections agency as an intake worker. She must gather information from the clients and the assign them to other caseworkers. A type of question that is useful in obtaining specific information is
A. Specific questions
B. Leading questions
C. Open-ended questions
D. Close-ended questions
D. Close-ended questions
A client has recently been referred to a social worker for issues related to domestic violence and drug use. The client asks questions about the social worker’s credentials and experience during the initial assessment. What should the social worker do next?
A. Move the conversation to a less threatening topic
B. Confront the client about how he is avoiding intake questions
C. Ask the client how he feels about being in therapy
D. Discuss the issues related to domestic violence
C. Ask the client how he feels about being in therapy
You are in your fourth session with a man who is 32-years-old who has been married for 6 years. He and his wife have 2 small children. He states to you that he recently had a homosexual experience and now realizes that he has been gay all of his life. He wants to talk to his wife but he is afraid she will become angry and he will not be able to see his children. Your best course of action would be?
A. Tell the client they should remain in the closet until society is more accepting of their lifestyle.
B. Explore with the client the possible outcomes of his revelation, and the possible issues he will face in the future
C. Help the client plan for any upcoming legal actions
D. Explore with the client whether or not the single experience is worth giving up his marriage.
B. Explore with the client the possible outcomes of his revelation, and the possible issues he will face in the future
During a family therapy session, the teenage daughter begins accusing her mother of being uncaring and neglecting her needs. The mother repeatedly responds very passively and does not defend herself, while the father continually attempts to take control of the session. The social worker needs to examine the family situation for
A. Individuation issues
B. Sexual abuse
C. Substance abuse
D. Triangulation
B. Sexual abuse
Step-families often deal with a variety of different issues. The most common issue in step-families and therefore and important issue for the social worker to be aware of is
A. Personalities
B. Discipline styles
C. Age of parents
D. Age of children
B. Discipline styles
In an initial therapy session, the 2 younger children (7 and 10 years old) begin acting out and fighting with each other. The parents do nothing to end the commotion. The social worker should first
A. Teach the parents how to stop the arguing
B. Allow the acting out to continue so he can assess the family dynamics
C. Tell the parents to control their children
D. Stop the arguing himself
B. Allow the acting out to continue so he can assess the family dynamics
You have been asked by a colleague to consult with a young couple who have 2 children, ages 2 and 6. They have recently been told that their 6 year old child has an Affective Disorder. The diagnosis was made after a school referral to a clinical social worker. The first thing you should do for this couple is
A. Complete a thorough biopsychosocial assessment of the family
B. Empower the parents through education about the disorder
C. Refer the family to a support group for families with children with similar diagnoses
D. Help the parents identify different social supports for the child
B. Empower the parents through education about the disorder
You have been asked to work with a family with a known history of father-daughter incest. As you evaluate the family system, you should expect to see all of the following concerns in this relationship except
A. Daughter-father communication will be distorted and symbolic
B. Reversal between mother-daughter roles and expectations
C. Highly supportive and sharing mother-daughter relationship
D. Family structure is very strict, with highly moralistic expectations
C. Highly supportive and sharing mother-daughter relationship
A school social worker is aware of several elementary school students whose parents are divorced. She is considering forming a group with these students. In what way would a group be beneficial?
A. It would let the students hear other students’ similar stories of experiences that have happened in their homes
B. It would let them know they are not alone
C. It would give the students ideas about how to get their parents back together
D. It would reduce the students trauma
B. It would let them know they are not alone
You have been hired by a private, non-profit agency, which works with the HIV/AIDS population. The primary function of your unit is to educate sexually active individuals about the disease and to help them understand the importance of testing, life-style changes, and treatment if necessary. What is the best way to describe your agency’s type of prevention?
A. Tertiary prevention
B. Crisis intervention
C. Secondary prevention
D. Primary prevention
C. Secondary prevention
A marriage and family treatment clinic is offering couples group therapy sessions, to be conducted by a social worker. The focus of the group is to discuss marital problems of the couples with the hopes that the couples can provide support and suggestions to one another. While the social worker is conducting the first session with the group, a member of the group expresses concerns over the relatively low number of male participants in the group. The social workers response should be
A. To encourage the group to discuss the issue
B. To discuss mens’ reluctance to seek help
C. To allow the men in the group to respond
D. To agree with the group member
A. To encourage the group to discuss the issue
You are writing a proposal to begin a group therapy project. As you are listing the different aspects of the group, you realize the most important aspect you should consider for establishing membership in the therapy group is
A. Personalities of individual group members
B. Length of each group session
C. Client diagnoses
D. Goals of the group
C. Client diagnoses
A school social worker in a public high school has been asked by her principal to set up a group for students who have been arrested for using drugs. He asks her to include some of the student leaders who have not used drugs, as positive role models for the other students. Which statement best describes this type of group?
A. The group is not a good idea
B. This is an educational group
C. This is a support group
D. This is a therapy group B
A. The group is not a good idea
A social worker in a mental health agency decides to form a therapy group for individuals who are having marital difficulties. The social worker has asked colleagues to refer individuals to the group. In forming this group, the social worker will need all of the following information about individuals except
A. Their stage in life
B. Their age
C. The nature of their problem
D. The number of children they have
D. The number of children they have
Group therapy is not appropriate for all of the following client groups except
A. Isolated from others
B. Compulsively in need of attention
C. Paranoid or psychotic
D. Actively in crisis
A. Isolated from others
There are many different types of groups that social workers lead. The type of group most associated with self-improvement and opportunities to expand self-awareness is
A. Socialization group
B. Growth group
C. Therapeutic group
D. Recreational group
B. Growth group
A social worker in a child abuse center creates a group for abusive parents. During the first session, one of the mothers becomes angry and starts to argue with another parent. The social worker should handle the situation by
A. Allowing the mother to vent her anger
B. Insisting the mother stop arguing
C. Having the parents work through the disagreement in an appropriate manner
D. Asking the mother to explain what caused her anger
A. Allowing the mother to vent her anger
Brian has obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD). His social worker recommends that he join a treatment group with others who have OCD. In the group he learns more about the disorder, completes assignments, and exchanges ideas with others in the group. What type of group is this?
A. Therapy group
B. Support group
C. Educational group
D. Growth group
C. Educational group
A local counseling center is planning to start a bereavement group for families who have suffered the loss of a loved one to AIDS. The programs will have an evaluation component that assesses the programs from the planning stage through the implementation stage. This type of evaluation is called
A. A summative program evaluation
B. A cost effectiveness evaluation
C. A formative program evaluation
D. A cost-benefit analysis
C. A formative program evaluation
The primary factor for a social worker to consider when setting up a behavioral treatment program for a cline tis
A. The outcome desired
B. The dysfunctional thoughts behind the behavior
C. The triggers for the behavior
D. The nature of the dysfunctional behavior
D. The nature of the dysfunctional behavior
There are different styles of leadership that can be utilized in organizations as a function of management. Which of these following describes the laissez-faire style of leadership organizations?
A. Staff members have a high level of say in decision-making; administration is only minimally involved in the process
B. Administration engages in unilateral decision making
C. Staff input on decisions is sought, administration makes the final decision
D. None of the above
A. Staff members have a high level of say in decision-making; administration is only minimally involved in the process
Social workers can work as managers in human service organizations at all levels of administration. The primary function of management is to
A. Maintain the morale of employees
B. Attend to the staffing of the organization
C. Plan organizational activities
D. Achieve the goals of the organization
D. Achieve the goals of the organization
While working at a child welfare agency, a social worker learned that agency staff members are making decisions based upon positive feelings towards certain clients. These feelings may influence staff member decisions regarding financial assistance. The social workers first step should be to
A. Contact the local NASW
B. Organize clients around the issue
C. Hold a meeting with all social workers
D. Speak with the director to clarify the process
D. Speak with the director to clarify the process
An experienced social worker has recently been employed in a small family therapy clinic. The social worker has been asked to provide supervision to staff members and she wants to do a good job. She knows that effective supervision is
A. Unstructured, consistent, and case-oriented
B. Structured, consistent, and evaluated
C. Unstructured, consistent, and theory-oriented
D. Unstructured, consistent, and evaluated
B. Structured, consistent, and evaluated
A social work supervisor has chosen to use group supervision rather than individual supervision with his supervisors. All of the following statements about group supervision are true except
A. Group supervision is often less threatening to supervisees
B. Group supervision involves the sharing of supervisory responsibilities by the supervisor and supervisees
C. Group supervision is a time saver for supervisors
D. Group supervision is a more effective approach to supervision than individual supervision
D. Group supervision is a more effective approach to supervision than individual supervision
Joseph is meeting his client, Catherine, for their regular session. Catering is engaged in many troublesome activities including gambling and high-risk sexual behavior. Joseph tries to get Cathering to understand the risks of these activities before serious consequences occur. Which of the following prevention strategies is Joseph using?
A. Passive prevention
B. Secondary prevention
C. Tertiary prevention
D. Primary prevention
D. Primary prevention
A social worker has been seeing a client (who is an accomplished artist) in private practice for 10 months. The client has made excellent progress and is ready to terminate therapy. During the final session the client presents the social worker with a painting of his dog, which she painted from a photo that he had on his desk. What is the best way for the social worker to handle this situation?
A. The social worker should explain that he cannot accept this gift, even though this is a kind and generous gesture
B. The social worker should offer to buy the painting from the client
C. The social worker should remind the client that he discussed gift giving during the initial interview
D. The social worker should accept the gift as it is a painting of his dog and would not have meaning to anyone else
A. The social worker should explain that he cannot accept this gift, even though this is a kind and generous gesture
Which of the following would be least effective with an involuntary client?
A. Asserting the therapeutic structure
B. Rewarding positives shown by the client
C. Showing empathy
D. Acknowledging the client’s circumstances
A. Asserting the therapeutic structure
Marco is a clinical social worker who has just taken a position with a community mental health agency which primarily serves Latino families in a 30 mile radius. When dealing with families referred to the agency, Marco should first be concerned with
A. Determine the degree of assimilation into American culture
B. Avoid modalities which directly conflict with Latino cultures
C. Use highly directive behavioral techniques
D. Assume the family will have a strictly patriarchal structure
A. Determine the degree of assimilation into American culture
A social worker has been working with a family that has a 16-year-old son who has had a drug problem. The son, in an individual session, tells the social worker that he has started to use drugs again. The social worker’s first responsibility is to
A. Maintain the son’s confidentiality
B. Ask the son to identify the reasons he has started using again
C. Assess the son’s drug use
D. Disclose this information to his parents
C. Assess the son’s drug use
A social worker who is an administrator of an agency is evaluating his agency using a formative program evaluation. Which of the following statements describes a formative program evaluation?
A. Evaluation in process
B. Evaluation of the outcome
C. Evaluation of effectiveness
D. Validity of program
A. Evaluation in process
A social worker in a detoxification facility discovers that a new patient told her former social worker that she bought prescription drugs in her lipstick case to the detox facility. Agency policy calls for the patient to start detox from the beginning if drugs are found. However, the client states that she has not taken any drugs since being admitted. The social worker should
A. Meet with other members of the facility to make a decision
B. Ask the patient to leave
C. Start detoxification over again since that is the policy
D. Ignore the drugs and continue treatment
C. Start detoxification over again since that is the policy
A social worker at a private mental health clinic has been asked to turn all of his records for a particular client over to the director’s administrative assistant. There appears to be a family relationship between the director and the husband of the client. The social worker needs to
A. Contact the client
B. Speak with the director regarding the reasons for the request
C. Turn the records over
D. Refuse, as this is an unethical situation
B. Speak with the director regarding the reasons for the request
A social worker in a large agency has several workers whom he supervises. All of the following are responsibilities of the social worker supervisor except
A. Making work assignments
B. Providing counseling to the supervisee
C. Evaluating the work of the supervisee
D. Educating the supervisee about agency policy and procedure
B. Providing counseling to the supervisee
A social worker at a homeless shelter is asked by a mother to take her children to the social worker’s home on Christmas Eve so the children will have Christmas in a nice home. The social worker should
Al. Explain the ethical reasons why this cannot be done
B. Take the children home on Christmas Eve
C. Spend Christmas Eve with the family
D. Call the local family service agency to obtain more support for the mother
D. Call the local family service agency to obtain more support for the mother
In a hospital setting, a social worker working with an elderly man is instructed by a physician to find the man a nursing home, as the doctor believes that the man is unable to care for himself a thome. The man does not want to go to a nursing home, and the social worker is aware of some services that might enable the man to live independently. However, the doctor refuses to listen. The social worker’s first responsibility is to
A. Follow the patient’s wishes
B. Follow the hospital’s rules
C. Follow the doctor’s orders
D. Follow the social worker’s own opinion
A. Follow the patient’s wishes
A social worker who is the administrator of a large organization that works to find adequate housing for homeless clients has been conducting research to determine the effectiveness of the agency. Which of the following is another term for summative program evaluation?
A. Cost effective analysis
B. Process analysis
C. Formative program evaluation
D. Outcome analysis
D. Outcome analysis
While presenting a workshop at a conference on the topic of personality disorders, an attendee speaks with a social worker at the break and describes herself as a Borderline Personality Disorder previously diagnosed at a psychiatrist’s office. She asks the social worker to confirm the diagnosis. What is the best response for the social worker to take?
A. Explain that she cannot diagnose under the circumstances. If the attendee has concerns, she should check with her doctor
B. Set an appointment to meet with the attendee
C. Advise her to see another psychiatrist for a second opinion
D. Meet with the individual after the conference to discuss her concerns
C. Advise her to see another psychiatrist for a second opinion
The social development of a six-year-old can be determined as age-appropriate when the medium of play is primarily:
A. With opposite sex friends
B. In parallel play
C. With same sex friends
D. In mixed sex groups
C. With same sex friends
In this stage of development, the primary medium of play is considered age-appropriate when it is in the same sex (key C), as sex and gender roles are beginning to develop. (A), (B), and (D) are also age appropriate but not the primary medium of play.
During an initial session, a Native American/First Nations client makes only brief eye contact and speaks softly with little apparent affect. The social worker most likely can attribute this behavior to:
A. The presence of depression
B. Mistrust of the social worker
C. A culturally based expression of respect
D. Symptoms of paranoid schizophrenia
C. A culturally based expression of respect
This questions requires the test-taker to apply knowledge of the ways in which the culturally0based behaviors may surface in the social worker-client relationship. It is too early in the session to attribute this behavior to depression, lack of trust, or paranoid schizophrenia.
A social worker is interviewing a child who is known to have sexually abused. The child has been reluctant to talk about what happened. Based solely on their knowledge of the research on child sexual abuse, however, the social worker might predict that which of the following is/are likely to be true in this situation?
A. The child was molested by a stranger
B. The perpetrator is someone the child knows or trusts
C. the perpetrator used physical violence to coerce the child
D. B and C
B. The perpetrator is someone the child knows or trusts
The wording of this question may have confused you. “Translated,” it’s just asking for something the research has found to be true about child sexual abuse. The research shows majority of victims are assaulted by someone they know and trust (e.g., a parent, caregiver, relative, friend)
A mother tells a social worker that she’s worried because her 4-year-old son has an imaginary playmate. What should the social worker do first?
A. Normalize the boy’s behavior
B. Recommend play therapy
C. Observe the mother-child interactions
D. Refer the mother to a parenting class and offer her literature on child development
A. Normalize the boy’s behavior
The mother’s presenting concern is that her son has an imaginary playmate, yet having an imaginary playmate at age 4 is considered normal; it’s not usually a symptom of psychopathology. Therefore, the social worker should begin by reassuring the mother that this behavior is normal.
A 50-year-old client diagnosed with chronic alcoholism is at greatest risk for which of the following conditions?
A. Parkinson’s Disease
B. Alzheimer’s Disease
C. Korsikoff’s Disease
D. Asperger’s Disorder
C. Korsikoff’s Disease
This is another recall question that requires knowledge of the effects of chronic alcoholism.
A woman whose child was recently diagnosed with a terminal illness is referred to a hospital social worker. The woman tells the social worker that her child is not ill and will not need to see the doctor again. Which defense mechanism is represented by the mother’s response?
A. Rationalization
B. Denial
C. Displacement
D. Intellectualization
C. Denial
Although presented as a vignette, this question essentially is a simple recall one. Given the circumstances surrounding the child, the behavior of the woman described in the stem s a clear example of denial.
A social worker is working in individual therapy with a 10-year-old child who has been placed in foster due to child neglect at home. This disruption has been difficult for the child, and she is worried about her parents’ well-being. The child asks the social worker what will happen in the future and whether she will ever return to her parents’ home. How should the social worker respond?
A. Withhold all information that could upset the child
B. Explore and discuss what underlies the child’s question before answering
C. Reassure the child that her parents are being helped, too
D. Answer the child as honestly as he can, with the facts as he knows them
D. Answer the child as honestly as he can, with the facts as he knows them
Children who have been removed from their parents’ home have suffered separation and loss and are likely to be feeling insecure and uncertain. They may blame themselves for the problems that led to their placement and feel as though they are being punished. And like this girl, they often worry about the well-being of their parents. As such, it’s very common for children in foster care to have questions about their past, current situation, and future. A social worker should make it easy for the child to ask these questions and, when responding, be as factual and honest as possible.
Kohlberg’s theory of moral development views it as being:
A. The result of parental expectations
B. Biologically innate and universal
C. The result of school and church teachings
D. Promoted by peer interactions
D. Promoted by peer interactions
Kohlberg, who published his theory of moral development 30 years after Piaget published his, was concerned with how children think about moral issues and emphasized the role of interactions with the environment in moral development. According to Kohlberg, although children may learn values and moral rules from adults, peers help each other judge and interpret what they are learning at their own level of cognitive development.
Since infancy, a child has experienced inconsistencies from multiple caregivers. When the child begins school, a social worker is most likely to notice that the child experiences:
A. Egocentric thoughts and feelings
B. Difficulty in trusting adults
C. Preoccupation with peer relationships
D. Academic failure in math and science
B. Difficulty in trusting adults
According to Erikson’s psychosocial theory of development, a child will have difficulty in trusting adults if there have been significant inconsistencies from multiple caregivers. Options A, C, and D are not necessarily results of a child experiencing inconsistencies from multiple caretakers.
According to psychodynamic theory, when a client relates to the social worker as though the social worker is someone from the client’s distant past, the client is experiencing:
A. Transference
B. Projection
C. Conversion reaction
D. Introjection
A. Transference
This is a basic recall question regarding the definition of transference. Options B, C, and D are defense mechanisms.
If Cathexis is the process by which sources of energy are tied to thoughts, actions, objects, or people, what is the source of all basic drives as people progress through the stages of life?
A. Mental Energy
B. Chemical rebound
C. Physiological energy
D. Biological energy
D. Biological energy
Biological energy is the source all basic drives as people progress through the stages of life.
An adolescent has been referred to the school social worker because of hostility and fighting with peers. To establish a therapeutic relationship with this client, the social worker should first:
A. Discuss confidentiality limitations with the student
B. Advocate with the school administrators to change the student’s school program
C. Validate the student’s hostile feelings and explore reasons for fighting
D. Reduce the student’s tension by discussing school activities
A. Discuss confidentiality limitations with the student
Discussing the confidentiality limitations is one of the first things that social workers should do with clients as this is a prerequisite to the client sharing information with informed consent. In this situation, the social worker would next reduce the student’s tension, then valiudate the student’s hostile feelings and explore reasons for fighting. Later, there may be a need for the social worker to advocate with the school administration to change the student’s school program.
A social worker observes preschool children at play and notices that boys tend to be more competitive in their activities, while girls tend to be more nurturing of each other. What is the BEST explanation for the observed behavior?
A. Learned behavior
B. Model schemas
C. Cognitive skills
D. Gender roles
D. Gender roles
This question requires recall of the gender role model to get to the correct option. According to the gender role model, certain behaviors and personality disorders characteristics are attributed to boys and some to girls.
Of the following factors, which one is least characteristic of parents who are at high risk for abusing their children?
A. History of being abused themselves as children
B. Insensitivity to criticism by others
C. Strong belief in the value of harsh punishment for misbehavior
D. Emotional “role-reversal” with their children
B. Insensitivity to criticism by others
You are asked to choose the factor that is least characteristic of abusive parents. Insensitivity to criticism by other is not associated with parents who are at high risk for engaging in child abuse.
A 5-year-old boy who has been neglected by his parents has been placed in foster care. The boy often stutters and is extremely shy. After several weeks, it is discovered that the boy’s foster parents ridicule or punish the boy whenever he has difficulty expressing himself or interacting with people he doesn’t know. In this situation, what should the social worker do?
A. Find alternative foster care placement for the boy
B. Provide additional education and training to the foster care parents
C. Refer the boy for behavioral therapy
D. Refer the boy to a speech therapy
A. Find alternative foster care placement for the boy
To receive Title IV-B funding for child welfare services, states are required to provide certain protections to all children in foster care. One of these protections is that the foster care placement must be consistent with both the best interests and the special needs of the child. Given the problems described in this question, it appears that this protection is not being offered in this case and that the social worker should seek alternative placement for the child.
A baby has been living with a foster care family since shortly after she was born. She is adopted by a different family at age 11 months. After moving to her new home, the baby is MOST likely to exhibit which of the following?
A. Few or no negative consequences
B. A failure to bond with the adoptive parents
C. Long-term emotional and behavioral problems that may be quite severe
D. A moderate reaction involving feeding and sleeping problems and excessive clinging
D. A moderate reaction involving feeding and sleeping problems and excessive clinging
Choice D is the most consistent with research. Studies examining the long-term effects of early parent-child separation have looked at children who are adopted during early childhood and are, therefore, separated rom their initial primary caregivers. While children separated prior to 3 months of age show little or no negative consequences, children 9 months or older at the time of separation exhibit moderate to extreme reactions including feeding and sleeping problems, social withdrawal, increased stranger anxiety, and either physical rejection of the new mother or excessive clinging to her.
A school-aged child is removed from his parents’ home because of chronic physical abuse. He is placed in foster care. The child’s FIRST reaction is most likely to be which of the following?
A. Distrust and fear of more abuse
B. Quick attachment to the foster parents
C. Relief and sense of safety
D. Aggression
A. Distrust and fear of more abuse
Among the psychological and behavioral consequences of abuse for a child are pathological object relations, a lack of trust, and a fear of being approached by adults. In addition, children who are chronically maltreated may come to see abuse as inevitable and themselves as “victims” and may blame themselves for the abuse.
A child can walk well but still runs with an awkward gait. She enjoys playing and pushing large objects such as carts and wagons. She plats with other children, but is not able to play with them in a cooperative way. Her vocabulary is about 25 words and she is able to put 2 to 3 words together to express an idea. This child would be considered to be at the developmental age of:
A. 9 months
B. 12 months
C. 2 years
D. 4 years
C. 2 years
This is the approximate age when children reach these developmental milestones.
A social worker assesses a client who has recently had a job loss and is seeking job placement counseling. The social worker concludes that the client is coping very well, drawing on internal qualities. In psychodynamic theory, these qualities are referred to as:
A. Ego strengths
B. Internal balances
C. Genetic predispositions
D. Adaptations
A. Ego strengths
Ego strengths are the degree of psychic energy available to the individual for problem-solving, resolving internal conflicts, and defending against mental and environmental distress. The other answer choices are possible answers, but do not exist in psychodynamic theory.
A social worker is conducting an initial interview with a father and 3 teenage children. The mother died recently after a lengthy illness. Exploration indicates that the family members were not able to appropriately mourn the mother’s death. To help them cope with the unresolved grief, what should the social worker do FIRST?
A. Encourage the family to discuss their loss
B. Obtain information about the mother’s illness
C. Refer the family to a grief support group
D. Explore how the mother’s roles are now being fulfilled
A. Encourage the family to discuss their loss
The social worker must help the family deal with their grief. Of the options presented, only A is an important component of the grief process. Choice B does not necessarily facilitate the grief process. Choices C and D may be appropriate at a later time, but not as the first step.
A social worker at a community mental health center is working with a 21-year-old client who has been experiencing a great deal of rejection from family and friends. The rejections followed an admission by the client that she is a lesbian. During the 3rd session the client begins to cry and says “maybe my mom is right. She says all I need to do is find the right man.” After reflecting the client’s unhappy feelings, what should the social worker do?
A. Use universalization to provide reassurances to the client about the behavior of others in these circumstances
B. Explore the client’s psychosocial history to determine the origins of her sexual orientation
C. Encourage the client to spend some time rethinking her sexual orientation before continuing with the “coming out” process
D. Arrange for a family session to assist the client’s family in understanding how to best support a gay family member
A. Use universalization to provide reassurances to the client about the behavior of others in these circumstances
This question addresses a social worker’s need to understand issues of diversity, not just as these issues affect the client, but as they affect the client’s relationships with others. The question asks for the social worker’s next action, which should be to help that client understand the feelings of rejection are not uncommon among gay and lesbian individuals who begin informing others o their sexual orientation. Choice B does little to help the client through the feelings she is experiencing. Choice C reflects poor social work skills and would exacerbate the client’s feelings of shame and uncertainty. Choice D, while a possibility in the relationship, is not the social workers best next option.
Which dynamic would you be LEAST likely to see in a family in which the father and daughter have an incestuous relationship?
A. The mother and daughter are extremely close
B. The father is overprotective
C. Pseudomutuality
D. The father authoritarian
A. The mother and daughter are extremely close
Certain relationship patterns tend to emerge when father-daughter incest is occurring in the family. You are asked to choose the pattern that you’d be least likely to see. It is uncommon to see a close relationship between the mother and daughter in these families. More often, the mother fails to protect or defend her daughter. The mother is often characterized as “absent” and passive.
Studies of abused children seem to indicate that:
A. Most abused children are under the age of 6
B. Abused children almost never develop emotional attachments to their abusive mothers
C. Socioeconomic status is not a factor in child abuse
D. Among young children, girls are the most common victims of abuse
A. Most abused children are under the age of 6
Perhaps not surprisingly, studies have found that young children under the age of 6 are at greater risk for abuse, probably as a result of their inability to defend themselves or escape from the abusive situation.
During an assessment for a parenting class, the parents of a four-year-old express cocnern that the child may not be meeting developmental milestones. The parents are concerned because the child has an imaginary friend. The social worker reassures the parents that this is appropriate behavior. The social worker interprets this behavior based on:
A. Sensorimotor intelligence
B. Preoperational thought
C. Concrete operational thought
D. Formal operational thought
B. Preoperational thought
All four of the answers are Piaget’s developmental stages. Choice A is the first stage which he applies to children birth to two years of age. Choice C is the stage from seven to 11 years of age. Choice D is the stage from 11 to adulthood. Choice B is correct because it applies to children from the age of 2 to 7. Children in this stage of development exhibit egocentric thought and language.
A social worker with a home health agency assesses a client for possible dementia. The client lives alone and receives home health services. The nursing aide states that the client’s cognitive abilities have changed significantly in the past several days. In addition to being confused and disoriented, the client is unsteady when walking. What should the social worker do FIRST?
A. Refer to client for a batter of psychological tests
B. Arrange a medical exam for the client as soon as possible
C. Refer the client for adult daycare services
D. Discuss the possible care placement with the client
B. Arrange a medical exam for the client as soon as possible
This is the first action that the social worker should take is to is to investigate whether the symptoms described in this question have a neurological or organic basis. Ignoring the physical symptoms in favor of psychological testing (Choice A), puts the client at risk, as does making a referral for adult daycare (Choice C), and discussing placement options (Choice D). the recent onset of these symptoms requires immediate action to rule out a medical condition.
While Conditioned Response (CR) is the learned response to a conditioned stimulus, what is it that is called acquisition?
A. A negative conditioned stimulus is paired with a pleasant stimulus that elicits a response that is incompatible with the unwanted conditioned response.
B. Learning to make distinctions among similar stimuli
C. The recurrence of the previously extinguished conditioned response following a rest period
D. The period during which the organism learns the association between the conditioned stimulus and the conditioned response
D. The period during which the organism learns the association between the conditioned stimulus and the conditioned response
Acquisition is the period during which the organism learns the association between the conditioned stimulus and the conditioned response
A social worker is treating a family that consists of a mother, father, and 2 children. She suspects that the mother is physically abusing the youngest child, a 5-year-old boy. The social worker is LEAST likely to find which of the following to b true about the family?
A. The mother was physically abused as a child
B. The family is a closed system
C. The mother relies on the child for satisfaction of her emotional needs
D. The mother has no symbiotic ties with family members
D. The mother has no symbiotic ties with family members
You are asked to identify what the social would be least likely to find to be true about this family. Your answer should have been based on what you have learned to be true, according to research and theory in this area. Contrary to Choice D, family systems theory suggests that abusive families are often characterized by symbiosis, in which the husband and wife, who are alienated from each other, turn to the child for emotional support (Choice C). When the child fails to provide this support, he or she becomes the target of frustration and resulting violence.
Which of the following treatment paradigms uses the technique of “time out”?
A. Social learning
B. Psycho dynamic
C. Humanistic
D. Systems
A. Social learning
A married couple bring their 6-year-old son in to see a social worker in provate practice. Thr parents indicate the child recently began bedwetting after being toilet trained for 3 years. Upon questioning, the parents reveal the bedwetting began shortly after the parents brought their new baby home from the hospital. What defense mechanism is the 6-year-old most likely using?
A. Displacement
B. Repression
C. Reaction formation
D. Regression
D. Regression this is a recall question that requires basic knowledge of psychoanalytic theory as it applies to regression.
Which of the following children is at the greatest risk of being abused?
A. A young child whose parents were both maltreated during childhood.
B. A 2-year-old being raised by a young single mother who drinks alcohol several times a week
C. A 12-year-old whose mother is irritable and has low impulse control
D. A teenage boy whose father is unemployed and drinks alcohol in the evenings
B. A 2-year-old being raised by a young single mother who drinks alcohol several times a week
Research suggests that young single, low-income mothers with young children are at greatest risk for physically abusing their children Alcohol or other drug use is also associated with an increased risk for abusive behavior.
A social worker is providing disaster relief services to families following extensive loss of lives and property due to flooding in their area. What is the most important thing for the social worker to help the families understand?
A. That a crisis will continue indefinitely without therapeutic intervention
B. That persons involved in a crisis will try to achieve a degree of equilibrium
C. That resolution of feelings related to this crisis will prevent recurrence of disequilibrium
D. That they will be unable to return to the pre-crisis level of functioning
B. That persons involved in a crisis will try to achieve a degree of equilibrium
Crises tend to be self-limiting, thus making Choice A incorrect. Resolution of feelings related to a current crisis will help restore a sense of equilibrium and may provide skills for resolution of future crises, but it will not prevent disequilibrium from occurring. Choice C is incorrect. With approproate intervention, people can return to the pre-crisis level of functioning or perhaps achieve a higher level of functioning. Choice D is incorrect. According to crisis theory, those involved in a crisis will try various methods to achieve a sense of equilibrium, since previous coping measures may not be helpful.
A couple consults a social worker because their child is disobedient. The social worker is aware that the couple has little understanding of child development and age appropriate behavior. To most effectively serve this family, the social worker should first:
A. Let the parents know that their expectations are inappropriate
B. Discuss behavioral techniques to assist the parents in achieving their goal
C. Acknowledge the parents’ concern and explore with them possible methods of intervention
D. Recommend parenting classes for the parents to increase their understanding of child behavior and parent effectiveness.
C. Acknowledge the parents’ concern and explore with them possible methods of intervention
The correct response is Choice C as this the first task is to begin developing a relationship with the parents. An effective way to do this is to acknowledge their concern. The other actions Choice A, Choice B, Choice D may follow as the work begins.
A social worker is a member of a team of professional planners hired by an inner-city revitalization agency. The team’s assignment is to improve living conditions in a deteriorated neighborhood that was once a thriving community. The area is now characterized by high crime rates and drug traffic. Those living in the neighborhood are intimidated and fearful. In adhering to the concept of social justice, what should the social worker do in a meeting with the residents?
A. Tell the group what other communities have done to bring about change
B. Suggest that the residents become involved in plans made by the city planners
C. Educate the group about using the media to call attention to their problems
D. Encourage the residents to voice their concerns and identify priorities for change
D. Encourage the residents to voice their concerns and identify priorities for change
Empowerment for the oppressed neighborhood residents must begin with identification of the residents’ needs and concerns. Otherwise, they will not be supportive of our involved in the change efforts. Choice A would not be correct, since what has worked in other areas might not work in this one. Choice B negates ownership of change efforts by the residents. Choice C could conceivably be useful at some point, but only after the group has decided to be participants in change efforts.
After working with a client for 2 months, the social worker recognizes that he has lost his objectivity and permitted himself to be pulled into the client’s manipulative strategies. This is an example of:
A. Countertransference
B. Transference
C. Need for improved attending skills
D. Dual relationship
A. Countertransference
This vignette requires the test-taker to recall the features of countertransference
A 6-year-old girl resists when her mother gets her ready for school. She claims that she feels sick and she cries when her mother leaves her at school. The social worker suspects that the girl may have school phobia. Which of the following most likely underlines this
A. Being separated from her mother
B. Academic difficulties
C. Anaclitic depression
D. Stranger anxiety
A. Being separated from her mother
Choice A is correct because either separation anxiety of a traumatic school experience usually underlies school phobia
Which of the following best describes the goal of permanency planning?
A. To reunite families
B. To provide continuity of care of dependent children
C. To identify children in temporary foster care who need alternative placement
D. To improve quality of faster care for dependent children
B. To provide continuity of care of dependent children
Permanency planning is designed to provide alternatives to temporary foster care placement. Ultimately its efforts are directed toward providing long-term continuity in the care of dependent children. Several strategies are used in permanency planning, including helping a child’s family be able to care for the child, assisting with adoptions, and clarifying foster care guidelines
Which of the following activities most accurately measures client progress during social work treatment?
A. Comparing the client’s current level of functioning in relation to original treatment goals
B. Recording the decline in anxiety as reported by the client regarding the presenting problem
C. Assessing the client’s ability to discuss painful difficulties more openly than in initial sessions
D. Recording the frequency of crisis calls and the client’s expressed need for emergency sessions
A. Comparing the client’s current level of functioning in relation to original treatment goals
The client’s current functioning in relation to the original goals is a valid measurement of progress, so Choice A is the correct answer. Choice would mean the client was being treated for anxiety, which is not indicated in the question. The same is true for Choice C; there is no evidence that the client has difficulty discussing painful issues. Choice D is not indicated, because there is no evidence of crisis calls or an expressed need for emergency sessions.
The social worker meets with a father who becomes angry when his 2-year-old son soils or wets his pants. The father’s usual response to this behavior is to yell at the child, telling him to “grow up.” What should the social worker explore with the father first?
A. A distorted perception of child development
B. A potential dysfunctional relationship with the child
C. The need for developing new ways to cope with stress
D. A possible displacement of anger toward the other parent
A. A distorted perception of child development
This question requires some understanding of normal child development. The social worker should first explore whether the father simply does not understand the developmental abilities of children (Choice A). Other issues mentioned in Choices B, C, D, while possible to a greater or lesser extent, but these are not the most appropriate actions to take first. They may need to be explored later.
A hospital social worker interviews a couple whose infant has recently been hospitalized for cystic fibrosis. The social worker notices that the parents are reluctant to touch the child. Based on this observation, what should the social worker do first?
A. Have the parents talk about their reactions to the child’s illness
B. Refer the couple to an appropriate support group
C. Evaluate the situation for out-of-home placement for the child
D. Provide the couple with information about cystic fibrosis
A. Have the parents talk about their reactions to the child’s illness
The questions asks for the first intervention. The social worker has observed the parents’ reluctance to touch their child, and now should begin an intervention by helping the couple express their feelings, Choice A. Choices B, C, and D may be appropriate actions to take at a later time.
A social worker would be most concerned if a client began to exhibit signs of school phobia when she was ____ years old.
A. 5
B. 7
C. 10
D. 13
D. 13
Restated, this question asks you to identify at what age school phobia (an acute and irrational fear of going to school) is most serious. When school phobia occurs during adolescence it is often an early sign of depression or other more severe disorder
A high school teacher holds unrealistically high expectations for a student who is Asian American. The school social worker best explains the teacher’s expectations as a:
A. Basic ethnic stereotype
B. Discriminatory attitude
C. Motivational technique
D. Personal teaching style
A. Basic ethnic stereotype
This question addresses the impact that stereotyping can have on behavior. The teacher’s behavior is best explained as the result of an ethnic stereotype (Choice A). The question asks for an identification of the teacher’s expectations, so Both Choice C and D are incorrect because they describe actions (motivational technique, teaching style). Choice B describes and attitude that would more frequently be associated with expectations of poor performance.
The concept of secondary gain in the psychodynamic approach is most congruent with the social learning theory concept of:
A. Punishment
B. Extinction
C. Discrimination
D. Learning reinforcement
D. Learning reinforcement
The concept of secondary gain from the psychodynamic approach refers to the benefit of a person derives from an experience in connection with a physical or mental health problem (e.g., getting sympathy from friends and family) that reinforces the problem. In social learning theory, the concept of reinforcement is congruent with secondary gain (Choice D) because that concept, too, is concerned with actions that support continuing a specific behavior. The social learning concepts of punishment (choice A), extinction (choice B), and discrimination learning (choice C) are not congruent with secondary gain.
A social worker conducts a home visit to a 45-year-old Latino client whose young son was killed in a recent car accident. The social worker observes that a large altar has been made, which contains many candles as well as pictures of the boy and other deceased relatives. The client sobs throughout the interview and tells the social worker that they boy has been communicating with the client nightly though angels. In order to most effectively work with the client, what should the social worker do first?
A. Refer the client for a medical evaluation
B. Assess the client for psychotic symptoms
C. Exploring mourning rituals of client’s family
D. Evaluate the potential of self-harm
C. Exploring mourning rituals of client’s family
The social worker needs to understand the client’s reactions from a cultural perspective. it is often more difficult to “start where the client is” with a client from another culture, because of a lack of comprehension. With this client, discussing mourning rituals is an excellent place to begin gaining an understanding. Any of the other options might be logical in terms of some cultures, but not others. If the social worker does not really know whether the things the client is talking about are unusual for a person of the Latino culture, finding out should be a first order of business.
A social worker makes home visits to a young mother with her first baby. On the first visit, the four-month-old baby smiles, laughs, and responds to the worker’s approaches. During a visit when the child is eight-months-old the baby turns away when the worker approaches, looks distressed and begins to cry. The social worker should interpret this change of behavior as most likely due to:
A. Conditioned fear response
B. Developmentally normal stranger anxiety
C. Child abuse
D. Normal temperamental irritability
B. Developmentally normal stranger anxiety
Eight months is the appropriate age when children normally experience stranger anxiety, according to attachment theory.
A social worker who is interviewing a couple who wants to become foster parents learns that they have a biological child who has HIV disease. What should the social worker do?
A. Continue the interview
B. Explain to the parents that they cannot be foster parents under these circumstances
C. Require that the parents get tested for HIV before proceeding any further with the interview
D. Explore the parents’ motivation to foster a child, given this situation
A. Continue the interview
The key to this question is knowing that having a child with HIV cannot disqualify the parents from being foster parents. In 2001, The U.S. Court of Appeals for the 3rd Circuit (Doe v. County of Centre PA, et al.) riled that a Pennsylvania count’s children’s agency could not disqualify prospective foster parents just because one of their children have HIV/AIDS or force them to disclose their children’s health status. The social worker should evaluate these parents just as he or she would evaluate any other prospective foster parents, exploring such issues as the parents’ health and mobility, family composition and income, views about child rearing, ability to accept responsibility, attitude toward the foster child’s natural parents, motivation to foster a child who is not their own despite the temporary nature of the placement, the suitability of accommodation, and the general home environment.
Compared to non-abusive parents, parents who physically abuse their children:
A. Are more easily irritated and annoyed by their children
B. Have no knowledge or understanding of child development
C. Are more permissive
D. Rely on physical punishment more often
A. Are more easily irritated and annoyed by their children
Despite extensive research in the area, few specific characteristics have been found that distinguish abusive parents from non-abusive parents. The research does show, however, that, compared to non-abusive parents, abusive parents tend to be more easily irritated and annoyed by their children, in part because they tend to misperceive their children’s behavior in a negative way.
A social worker employed at a women’s center assesses a female who has bruises on her body. According to the client’s medical record, she has a history of being assaulted by her husband. The client appears anxious and vehemently denies being hit, claiming she accidentally fell down the stairs. The client’s sense of powerlessness and denial is an indicator of:
A. Psychological abuse
B. Physical neglect
C. Mistrust of the system
D. An anxiety disorder
A. Psychological abuse
Because the question indicates the women’s sense of powerlessness and denial, psychological abuse (Choice A) is the correct answer among the options listed. Psychological abuse frequently accompanies physical abuse. There is not enough information in the question to substantiate Options C and D as a correct answer. Option B is already suspected based on physical evidence and the history of abuse.
To receive Title IV-B funding for foster care, states are required to provide certain protections to all children in foster care. These protections include all of the following, except:
A. Placement in the most family-like setting available and in close proximity to the child’s biological parents or legal guardian
B. Placement consistent with the special needs of the child
C. Provision of a detailed written case plan and a case review at least every 6 months
D. A permanency planning hearing as soon as the child is placed in foster care
D. A permanency planning hearing as soon as the child is placed in foster care
If you are familiar with the protections offered to children in foster care, this question requires you to read the choices carefully. A permanency planning hearing must be held for the child within 12 months of this or her initial placement or after a determination that reasonable efforts to reunite the family are not required or have been unsuccessful.
Which situation is an example of role reversal in a parent-child relationship?
A. A 7-year-old girl comforting her distressed mother following a marital separation
B. A 9-year-old girl sharing her mother’s concerns about household bills that are unpaid
C. A single mother expecting her 10-year-old son to stay at home unsupervised
D. An 11-year old boy demanding that his meals be on the table at a certain time
A. A 7-year-old girl comforting her distressed mother following a marital separation
Although presented by way of example, this question depends on basic recall of the concept of role reversal. Options B, C, and D, while presenting behaviors that may not be age appropriate for the parent or child, do not present a clear example of role reversal. Only Option A shows a situation in which parent and child have assumed each other’s role.
A social worker is assessing a school-aged child who has been acting out in the classroom and defying her parents. She refuses to do her homework or chores. Her parents, who are second-generation immigrants from Korea, work long hours, and the girl’s grandmother cares for her everyday after school. The social worker is using Bronfenbrenner’s ecological systems theory to examine the child’s development. When evaluating the microsystem, the social worker will study:
A. The cultural values, customs, and laws affecting the girl and her family
B. The connection between the child, her family and the school
C. The child’s immediate environment and face-to-face relationships
D. The parents’ work schedules and the family’s access to community-based resources
C. The child’s immediate environment and face-to-face relationships
Bronfenbrenner’s ecological systems theory emphasizes that, when studying a child’s development, it is necessary to look not only at the child and her immediate environment, but also at the interaction of the larger environment. Thus, this theory looks at a child’s development within the context of the system of relationships that form her environment. It defines “layers” (nested contexts) of the environment, with each having an effect on a child’s development. The “microsystem” is the later closest to the child and contains the structures with which the child has direct contact; it encompasses the relationships and interactions a child has with her immediate surroundings. The “mesosystem” provides the connection between the structures of the child’s microsystem; an example includes the connection between a child’s teacher and her parents. The “exosystem” defines the larger social system in which the child does not function directly. The structures in this layer affect a child’s development by interacting with structures in her microsystem. Examples include parent workplace schedules and community-based family resources. The “macrosystem” is the outermost layer in the child’s environment. It is comprised of cultural values, customs, and laws which influence all of the other layers. For example, if a culture believes that the parents would be solely responsible for raising their children, the culture is less likely to provide resources to help parents. This, in turn, affects the structures in which the child’s parents function (e.g., their ability to carry out their responsibilities toward their child in the context of the child’s microsystem). Note that Bronfenbrenner’s theory recently has been renamed “bioecological systems theory” to emphasize that a child’s biology is also a primary affecting her development.
