Social and Cultural Diversity

Question 1

Question ID #19661: According to the cycle of violence model of spouse abuse, there is a period of ______________ following an incident of abuse:
Select one:

A.
withdrawal

B.
continued abuse

C.
contrition

D.
retribution

Answer 1

C.
contrition

According to the cycle of violence model, an incident of abuse is followed by a period of contrition, before the cycle continues and more abuse occurs.

Question 2

According to studies on child abuse, a person who was abused as a child is __________ to be an abuser as an adult than a person on who was not abused as a child
Select one:

A.
less likely

B.
equally likely

C.
more likely

D.
none of the above

Answer 2

C.
more likely

A person who was abused as a child is more likely to commit abuse as an adult than a person who was not abused. However, this does not mean that a victim of abuse will always commit abuse or someone who was not a victim will never commit abuse; it just means that one group is more likely to commit abuse.

Question 3

A client you are treating reports that she has been experiencing withdrawal effects ever since she stopped drinking alcohol. These effects can be:
Select one:

A.
physiological and psychological

B.
physiological but not psychological

C.
psychological but not physiological

D.
social

Answer 3

A.
physiological and psychological

Withdrawal effects can be physiological, psychological, or both. Most severe physiological effects have some impact on psychology and vice versa.

Question 4

The “cycle of violence” model of spouse abuse predicts that, immediately following an incident of abuse, there is a period of:
Select one:

A.
withdrawal and reconsideration

B.
tension-building

C.
loving contrition

D.
retribution

Answer 4

C.
loving contrition

Lenore Walker’s (1984) cycle of violence model entails three stages: tension building, acute battering incident, and loving contrition. According to Walker, abusive relationships tend to remain stable when the costs of the abuse and the benefits of the loving contrition behaviors exhibited by the abuser are about equal.

Question 5

Which of the following statements about counseling the elderly is true?
Select one:

A.
counselors may want to slow down their speech and use simpler phrasing with elderly counselees because working memory typically declines with age

B.
older adults maintain working memory that is comparable to younger adults, but because some elderly clients will show decrements in procedural memory, counselors may need to apply “cognitive prosthetics” in their conversations with elderly clients

C.
elderly counselees are likely to comprehend a counselor’s statements in a given session as well as a younger counselee does, but may not recall these discussions between sessions

D.
counselors generally should not ask elderly counselees about experiences with memory loss

Answer 5

A.
counselors may want to slow down their speech and use simpler phrasing with elderly counselees because working memory typically declines with age

The research has generally concluded that working memory–the capacity to retain and manipulate information shortly after it is presented–typically declines with age.

Question 6

A person who is experiencing alcohol withdrawal would most likely exhibit which of the following symptoms?
Select one:

A.
dysphoric mood, vivid dreams, insomnia, and increased appetite

B.
impaired coordination, nystagmus, memory problems, and mood fluctuations

C.
dysphoric mood, restlessness, insomnia, and fever

D.
hand tremor, insomnia, hallucinations, and seizures

Answer 6

D.
hand tremor, insomnia, hallucinations, and seizures

Alcohol Withdrawal involves the development of at least two characteristic symptoms following cessation of (or reduction in) heavy, prolonged alcohol consumption. The characteristic symptoms of this disorder include the ones listed in this answer (hand tremor, insomnia, transitory hallucinations, and seizures).

Question 7

Which of the following statements is true?
Select one:

A.
for ethical reasons, it is inappropriate for counselors to inquire on health matters with an older client

B.
counselors should help relieve the burden of health care providers by diagnosing illness in elderly clients

C.
counselors working with older adults should acquire understanding about the medical problems that older clients may experience

D.
it is unethical and illegal for counselors to ask an elderly client about prescription medications that the client may be taking

Answer 7

C.
counselors working with older adults should acquire understanding about the medical problems that older clients may experience

The proportion of chronic illness and disability in the population increases with each decade of life, and illness and disability may well have an impact upon the psychological functioning of an older client. This, it is important for counselors to learn about the medical problems of older clients. (See Knight, B. G., and McCallum, T. J. [1998]. Adapting psychotherapeutic practice for older clients: Implications of the contextual, cohort-based, maturity, specific challenge model. Professional Psychology: Research and Practice, 9[1], 15-22.)

Question 8

Which of the following accurately describes the “honeymoon” stage in Lenore Walker’s model of cyclical spouse abuse?
Select one:

A.
it comes between tension-building and acute battering

B.
it comes between acute battering and tension-building

C.
the victim gives into the demands of the batterer

D.
all of the above

Answer 8

B.
it comes between acute battering and tension-building

Lenore Walker (1984) identified a three-stage cycle of spouse abuse: (1) tension-building, then (2) acute battering, then (3) loving contrition–or “honeymoon”–then back to tension-building, and indefinite perpetuation of the cycle. (See Walker, L. E. A. [1984]. Battered Woman Syndrome. New York: Springer.)

Question 9

Which of the following interventions is most likely to result in the reduction of the risk of future spousal abuse?
Select one:

A.
mediation of the dispute by a relative

B.
separation of the husband and wife after the abuse

C.
arrest of the abuser

D.
drug treatment of the abuser

Answer 9

C.
arrest of the abuser

The U.S. Department of Justice and National Crime Prevention Council Study found that police intervention after a spousal attack reduces the risk of another attack within six months by 62%.

Question 10

Which of the following characteristics is LEAST associated with abusive parents?
Select one:

A.
love of pleasurable activities

B.
anxiety

C.
depression

D.
drug or alcohol abuse

Answer 10

A.
love of pleasurable activities

Characteristics associated with abusive parents include drug and alcohol abuse, depression, poor impulse control, anxiety, and physical illness. Abusive families tend to be chaotic or overly controlled.

Question 11

Which of the following is true of child sexual abuse?
Select one:

A.
the abuser is not likely to be acquainted with the child

B.
the majority of sex abusers are from low socioeconomic levels

C.
most sex abusers attempt to force their victims to have intercourse with them

D.
the majority of sex abusers are heterosexual

Answer 11

D.
the majority of sex abusers are heterosexual

Most child sexual abusers are heterosexual, even when the victim and the abuser are of the same sex.

Question 12

A teacher contacts the school counselor to discuss signs of child abuse. She is concerned about one of her students who has been acting strangely. She asks the counselor, and finds out that which of the following behaviors is most likely to indicate child abuse?
Select one:

A.
aggressiveness

B.
inattentiveness

C.
regression

D.
compassion

Answer 12

C.
regression

It is important to note that the question is asking for the behavior which is most likely to indicate child abuse. This does not mean that the other behaviors do not indicate child abuse, but that one of these behaviors is more indicative of child abuse than the others.

Question 13

Surveys of representative samples of the population have suggested that between one-sixth and one-half of the victims of serious spouse abuse are known to the police. Thus, it has been proposed that the police can act as an important component in efforts to reduce the incidence of spouse abuse. Research by Sherman and Berk (1984) compared several types of police interventions in cases of spouse abuse and found that:
Select one:

A.
arrest of the offender results in lower recidivism rates than either immediate separation of the parties for a brief period or informal mediation of the dispute only when arrest is quickly followed by court sanctions

B.
arrest of the offender results in lower recidivism rates than either immediate separation of the parties for a brief period or informal mediation of the dispute regardless of whether or not the arrest is quickly followed by court sanctions

C.
separation of the parties for a brief period by ordering the offender out of the house results in lower recidivism rates than either arrest or informal mediation of the dispute

D.
informal mediation of the dispute results in lower recidivism rates than either arrest or separation of the parties for a brief period

Answer 13

B.
arrest of the offender results in lower recidivism rates than either immediate separation of the parties for a brief period or informal mediation of the dispute regardless of whether or not the arrest is quickly followed by court sanctions

The arrest of the abuser has been found to be the most effective way of reducing the recidivism of spouse abuse. Research suggests that the effectiveness of arrest is high regardless of whether the arrest is accompanied by court sanctions such as prosecution.

Question 14

Which of the following is true about the economic status of the elderly in the U.S.:
Select one:

A.
the majority of elderly Americans have a higher socioeconomic status than the rest of the U.S. population

B.
elderly women and minority group members are most likely to have a lower socioeconomic status than the rest of the U.S. population

C.
most seniors generate their income through earnings and wages

D.
the number of employed elderly persons has significantly increased over the last several decades

Answer 14

B.
elderly women and minority group members are most likely to have a lower socioeconomic status than the rest of the U.S. population

The majority of elderly Americans have a lower socioeconomic status than the rest of the population; this is particularly true of elderly women and minority group members.

Question 15

All of the following are true about counseling with gay clients except:
Select one:

A.
referral to community resources is often important

B.
therapy should focus on the clients’ experiences with social oppression

C.
racial minority gay clients tend to be more concerned about racial issues than issues related to their sexuality

D.
the issue of counselor-client similarity may be particularly important

Answer 15

B.
therapy should focus on the clients’ experiences with social oppression

Because the stem includes the word “except,” this is a reverse type question. With gay clients, it may be necessary to strike a balance between validating their experience of social oppression and helping them move beyond the role of victim. Moreover, many gay clients present with issues that have little or nothing to do with social oppression.

Question 16

Characteristics of families with an addict member include:
Select one:

A.
parents who are anxious to relinquish control over their children

B.
parental injunctions against drug use of any kind

C.
an extremely enmeshed parental subsystem

D.
denial of underlying conflicts

Answer 16

D.
denial of underlying conflicts

The denial of underlying conflicts can continue because the addict provides a focus for the family conflict. Once the conflicts are no longer denied, the addict member no longer serves that purpose.

Question 17

Which of the following is most commonly associated with suicide:
Select one:

A.
alcoholism

B.
depression

C.
schizophrenia

D.
sociopathy

Answer 17

B.
depression

Notice the word most in the question. Although studies have yielded different results, most statistics on suicide are fairly consistent with the following data. Approximately 50% of all suicides are associated with depressive illness. Risk is highest when the person’s depression begins to lift. Approximately 20-25% of all suicides are associated with chronic alcoholism. Less than 20-25% of all suicides are associated with schizophrenia. Sociopathy (antisocial personality disorder) is not associated with a high risk for suicide.

Question 18

A client you are seeing is from another culture. You are concerned about:
Select one:

A.
never having treated anyone from this culture

B.
the client’s unfamiliarity with the therapeutic process affecting the therapeutic relationship

C.
your unfamiliarity with the culture affecting the therapeutic process

D.
the client valuing the therapeutic process and relationship

Answer 18

C.
your unfamiliarity with the culture affecting the therapeutic process

This question concerns the effect culture may play in the therapeutic alliance. You need to think about the ethical considerations of scope of competence regarding cultural differences. Your unfamiliarity with the culture has the potential for a more serious ramification on the therapeutic process. Your scope of competence could then be an issue. The best welfare of the client is your ethical concern. Answer (a) is included in answer C which is more informative about the impact this may have.

Question 19

Research on the effects of divorce suggests that:
Select one:

A.
boys seem to be affected more adversely and for a longer period of time

B.
girls seem to be affected more adversely and for a longer period of time

C.
boys and girls are initially affected about equally but boys are affected for a longer period of time

D.
boys and girls are initially affected about equally but girls are affected for a longer period of time

Answer 19

A.
boys seem to be affected more adversely and for a longer period of time

Although boys and girls are both negatively affected by divorce, boys seem to experience greater difficulties. Research by E. M. Heatherington suggests that boys tend to suffer more intensely and over a longer period of time than girls. Apparently this is due, in part, to the fact that boys often get less support from parents, peers, teachers, etc.

Question 20

Studies investigating the effects of maternal employment on the family have most consistently found that:
Select one:

A.
working mothers are less satisfied with themselves than non-working mothers

B.
children of working mothers have more egalitarian concepts about sex roles

C.
children of working mothers receive less attention and affection from their mothers

D.
children of working mothers tend to have higher levels of academic achievement

Answer 20

B.
children of working mothers have more egalitarian concepts about sex roles

Maternal employment appears to have several beneficial consequences for the family. For instance, children with working mothers tend to have more egalitarian concepts about sex roles and less traditional stereotypes of male and female activities than children whose mothers are full-time homemakers (see, e.g., Hoffman, 1979; Huston, 1983).

Question 21

The life cycles of modern cultures and traditional cultures differ in which way:
Select one:

A.
all cultures have definitive life cycles, but the stages and durations may differ

B.
most pre-modern cultures do not have definitive life cycles; there are extreme variations among individuals

C.
only modern cultures have identified specific developmental issues

D.
rights of passage are similar in all cultures

Answer 21

A.
all cultures have definitive life cycles, but the stages and durations may differ

All cultures have identifiable life cycles, although these cycles vary among cultures. For example, in many non-industrialized societies, young adolescents marry and bear children. They also function as workers at a much younger age than adolescents in industrialized societies. Although all cultures have rites of passage, they vary greatly in different cultures. Even in industrial societies, ethnic and religious backgrounds dictate differing rites of passage for individuals.

Question 22

All of the following are barriers to the treatment of spouse abuse except:
Select one:

A.
the victim’s tendency to exaggerate when describing incidents of abuse

B.
traditional values with regard to a family’s right to privacy

C.
the stereotype that a woman is the possession of her husband

D.
ambivalence on the part of the victim

Answer 22

A.
the victim’s tendency to exaggerate when describing incidents of abuse

This is a reverse type question, so you had to select the “wrong,” or untrue, answer. Chronic exposure to extreme forms of violence can dull the perception of it. A wife who has been abused for an extended period might minimize the violence rather than exaggerate it.

Question 23

All of the following are likely to be inappropriate strategies in the counseling of a battered spouse except:
Select one:

A.
couples therapy

B.
strong criticism of the batterer

C.
showing a great amount of respect for the privacy of the family

D.
group therapy

Answer 23

D.
group therapy

This reverse type question includes a double negative: Your goal was to find a strategy that would be effective for treating a battered spouse. Group therapy is effective in helping the battered spouse face reality. Couples therapy can be inappropriate, as the batterer can control the sessions and continue instilling fear. Strong criticism of the batterer can backfire and cause the battered partner to defend the batterer. Respect for family privacy can be a barrier to treatment. Professionals can be unwilling to “invade” family boundaries and family members can be unwilling to reveal problems.

Question 24

The vice-president of an insurance company refuses to hire women as executives because he believes that they cannot handle pressure. His refusal is an example of:
Select one:

A.
discrimination

B.
prejudice

C.
stereotyping

D.
the self-fulfilling prophecy

Answer 24

A.
discrimination

The term “discrimination” refers to a specific action that favors one group or sub-group over another. In this question, the vice-president is discriminating against women.

Question 25

Studies on child abuse have indicated that if a person is abused as a child, as an adult he/she will be likely to:
Select one:

A.
abhor and avoid violence

B.
be a victim of abuse

C.
be an abuser

D.
b or c

Answer 25

D.
b or c

Be sure to read every answer before selecting one. You needed to recall what you have studied about this topic, since the two true answers seem to be mutually exclusive. Answers (b) or (c) tend to result when a person is abused as a child.

Question 26

A family in which sexual abuse of children is occurring is least likely to display:
Select one:

A.
disengagement

B.
enmeshment

C.
overly diffuse boundaries between family members

D.
scapegoating

Answer 26

A.
disengagement

Sexually abusive families are marked by overly diffuse boundaries between family members (i.e., a lack of appropriate boundaries. This is also called enmeshment (note that b and c essentially represent the same answer; since they cannot both be correct, they are both incorrect). The opposite of enmeshment is disengagement, which is marked by isolation and rigid boundaries between family members, which is rare in sexually abusive families. Such families often practice scapegoating (i.e., the placing of blame on a specific family member).

Question 27

Research on prejudice indicates that certain conditions can reduce intergroup hostilities. Which of the following conditions would be most effective for reducing racial prejudice displayed by groups of White and Black children:
Select one:

A.
the children are required to cooperate in order to achieve a common goal

B.
the children are confronted with a “common enemy”

C.
contact between the children occurs daily over an extended period of time

D.
the children are provided with norms that prescribe courtesy and friendliness

Answer 27

A.
the children are required to cooperate in order to achieve a common goal

Research on intergroup hostility has contributed greatly to the understanding of the variables that contribute to prejudice. One of the most consistent findings is that intergroup hostilities (e.g., prejudice) can be reduced by having groups work on a common goal (Cook, 1978; Sherif, 1966): When children are required to cooperate in order to achieve a common (“superordinate”) goal, prejudice is likely to decrease. Eliminate (b) because Sherif (1966), for example, found that the introduction of a common enemy merely widened the scope of conflict. Research has also generally not supported the notions in (c) and (d). For example, Sherif (1966) found that increased contact under pleasant circumstances only provided more opportunities for the expression of hostility.

Question 28

Which of the following factor(s) is/are significant to an individual’s successful adjustment during the retirement stage of his/her life:
Select one:

A.
economic well-being

B.
a positive sense of self

C.
good physical health

D.
all of the above

Answer 28

D.
all of the above

All of the factors listed - economic well-being, positive sense of self, good health - are associated with successful adjustment in a person’s retirement stage. Common sense should tell you that these all seem like factors that would promote adjustment.

Question 29

Which of the following treatment modalities would likely be the most appropriate one for a battered woman:
Select one:

A.
couples counseling

B.
assertiveness training

C.
behavioral sex therapy

D.
gestalt therapy

Answer 29

B.
assertiveness training

One goal of counseling with victims of spouse abuse is to increase their ability to assert their right to better treatment from their spouse (and others). Thus, assertiveness training is often part of the overall treatment plan with clients who have been abused by their spouse. Couples counseling (a) is usually not indicated, or at least not until both the victim and the batterer have undergone their own treatment.

Question 30

A client you are treating reports that she has been experiencing withdrawal effects ever since she stopped drinking alcohol. These effects can be:
Select one:

A.
physiological but not psychological

B.
psychological but not physiological

C.
both physiological and psychological

D.
social

Answer 30

C.
both physiological and psychological

Withdrawal effects can be physiological, psychological, or both. Where severe physiological effects are involved, there is usually some impact on psychology and vice versa.

Question 31

According to the Cycle of Violence Model of spouse abuse, a period of contrition tends to follow:
Select one:

A.
an incident of abuse

B.
a period where no abuse occurs

C.
an incident of retribution

D.
a period of separation

Answer 31

A.
an incident of abuse

According to the Cycle of Violence Model, an incident of abuse is followed by a period of contrition, before the cycle eventually continues and more abuse occurs.

Question 32

According to studies on child abuse, a person who was abused as a child is __________ to be an abuser as an adult than a person on who was not abused as a child:
Select one:

A.
less likely

B.
much less likely

C.
more likely

D.
much more likely

Answer 32

C.
more likely

A person who was abused as a child is more likely to commit abuse as an adult than a person who was not abused. However, this does not mean that a victim of abuse will always commit abuse, or someone who was not a victim will never commit abuse; it just means that one group is more likely to commit abuse. Choosing “more likely” or “much more likely” requires you, like many questions on the NCE, to make a subtle judgment. Although the greater likelihood among victims to later commit abuse is a common finding, it is not accurate to say they are “much more likely” to be abusers.

Question 33

His school counselor referred Miguel Cruz to you for pre-college counseling. Miguel is the oldest of four children and has been an exceptional student. Four months ago he was offered a full scholarship through the Rotary Club and was accepted at a school 1500 miles from home. Recently his grades have slipped. You:
Select one:

A.
believe he is reacting the stresses associated with fear of success

B.
believe he may be better attending a community college for the first 2 years

C.
ask Miguel what changes have affected his recent schoolwork

D.
ask his family, including his siblings, to attend his sessions

Answer 33

D.
ask his family, including his siblings, to attend his sessions

Hispanic families are more concerned with family welfare over individual welfare. Miguel’s decision about his future education would be part of a family discussion. Inviting the family to the counseling sessions would be a high priority. Answers A and B are assumptions not based on information contained in the case information. Answer C may or may not get a response. For this question, the cultural issue was not a distractor; it was the heart of the question.

Question 34

Which of the following interventions is most likely to be successful in deterring spouse abuse:
Select one:

A.
family therapy

B.
group therapy

C.
behavior therapy

D.
arresting the abuser

Answer 34

D.
arresting the abuser

Research has shown that no form of mental health treatment is very likely to prevent the recurrence of spouse abuse. However, in a number of community studies, arrest of the abuser has been shown to be associated with a significant reduction in the recidivism rate.

Question 35

Alcoholics Anonymous:
Select one:

A.
attempts to cure alcoholism

B.
requires its members to believe in God

C.
encourages a one-day-at-a-time commitment to sobriety

D.
all of the above

Answer 35

C.
encourages a one-day-at-a-time commitment to sobriety

Only “C” is true of Alcoholics Anonymous (AA). The assumption of AA is that alcoholism is a lifelong, incurable disease; thus, members make a one day at a time commitment to sobriety and there is no attempt at cure. Moreover, although members are encouraged to trust a “higher power,” there is no requirement that they “believe in God.”

Question 36

Regular use of morphine or other opioid can quickly result in the development of tolerance and dependence. When this occurs, abrupt cessation of the drug produces a withdrawal syndrome that is characterized by:
Select one:

A.
blackouts and seizures.

B.
rebound anxiety and rebound insomnia.

C.
nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea.

D.
delirium tremens.

Answer 36

C.
nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea.

Opioid Withdrawal closely resembles a moderately severe case of the flu with symptoms including nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, muscle aches, and runny nose and eyes.

Question 37

Which of the following issues is most likely to arise in the counseling of an elderly person:
Select one:

A.
complete social isolation

B.
marked impairment in mental functioning

C.
boredom

D.
sexuality

Answer 37

D.
sexuality

Interest in sex continues throughout the life span, and issues such as lack of available sex partners or temporary sexual dysfunction may arise in counseling the elderly. By contrast, the notions that elderly individuals are more likely to be socially isolated, experience marked impairment in mental functioning, or be bored have been identified as myths about the elderly.

Question 38

The “belief-in-a-just-world” hypothesis has been used to explain:
Select one:

A.
conformity

B.
bystander apathy

C.
authoritarianism

D.
prejudice

Answer 38

D.
prejudice

The “belief-in-a-just-world” hypothesis holds that people prefer to believe that the world is orderly and fair. This hypothesis has been used to explain phenomena such as “blaming the victim” and prejudice. The idea is that we are more comfortable with the notion that individuals “get what they deserve” than the idea that bad things happen to people for no particular reason.

Question 39

Studies assessing the occurrence of spouse abuse have generally found that, in the United States, spouse abuse:
Select one:

A.
occurs in about 5-15% of couples

B.
occurs, at least to some degree, in as many as 50% of all couples

C.
occurs predominantly among the upwardly mobile middle class

D.
is usually attributable to severe pathology in one or both spouses

Answer 39

A.
occurs in about 5-15% of couples

Estimates of the incidence of spouse abuse, when it is defined as physical violence ranging from occasional slaps to severe beating, are usually that 50% or more of married couples engage in some form of abuse.

Question 40

A group of clinical psychologists of both sexes are asked to describe “healthy males” and “healthy females.” Based on your knowledge of the research in this area, you would predict that:
Select one:

A.
male and female psychologists will describe healthy males more positively than healthy females

B.
male and female psychologists will describe healthy females more positively than healthy males

C.
male psychologists will describe healthy males more positively and female psychologists will describe healthy females more positively

D.
male and female psychologists will describe healthy males and healthy females in similar terms

Answer 40

A.
male and female psychologists will describe healthy males more positively than healthy females

Studies in the 1970s indicated that both male and female mental health professionals tend to describe the “healthy” female as dependent, emotional, passive, and non-competitive. Although some research has found a reduction of sex bias in the mental health professions, the majority of research continues to support the notion that healthy males are viewed more positively than healthy females.