Social Work Terms

Question 1

Ego Strengths

Answer 1

The individuals capacity for logical thinking, intelligence, perspective, and self-control over impulses to achieve immediate gratification

Question 2

Privilege

Answer 2

The premise and understanding between client and therapist that the information revealed by the client will not be divulged to others without express permission; Courts often honor this unless there is a risk of public danger or threat to the public good.

Question 3

Reflective Listening

Answer 3

A technique in which the social work clarifies and shows the client what his or her feelings are in the moment and encourages further expression and understanding of those feelings (often through paraphrasing)

Question 4

Consultation

Answer 4

A problem-solving process in which advice and other helping activity is offered to an individual, group, organization, or community that is faced with a problem

Question 5

Ego syntonic

Answer 5

Traits of personality, thought, behavior, and values that are incorporated by the individual who considers them acceptable and consistent with his or her overall “true” self

Question 6

Countertransference

Answer 6

A set of conscious or unconscious emotional reactions to a client experienced by a therapist; these feelings usually originate in the therapist’s own developmental conflicts or past.

Question 7

Tardive Dyskinesia

Answer 7

A medication-induced movement disorder that includes uncontrollable physical movements, especially in the face, lips, and tongue, and sometimes repetitive movements of the head, hands, and feet.

Question 8

Gender Roles

Answer 8

The behaviors and personality characteristics that are attached to people because of their sex, often inaccurately

Question 9

Negative reinforcement

Answer 9

In behavior modification, the strengthening of a response through the removal of an adverse stimuli

Question 10

Empathy

Answer 10

The act of perceiving, understanding, experiencing, and responding to the emotional state and ideas of another person

Question 11

Prejudice

Answer 11

An opinion about an individual, group, or phenomenon that is developed without proof or systematic evidence (usually negative)

Question 12

Advocacy

Answer 12

Championing the rights of individuals or communities through direct intervention or through empowerment; this is a basic obligation of the social work profession

Question 13

Extinction

Answer 13

In behavior modification, the elimination or weakening of a conditioned response by discontinuing the reinforcement after the response occurs

Question 14

Transference

Answer 14

A concept that refers to emotional reactions that are assigned to current relationships but originated in earlier experiences (often the feelings a client has toward a therapist)

Question 15

Reinforcement

Answer 15

In behavior modification, a procedure that strengthens the tendency of a response to recur

Question 16

Informed consent

Answer 16

The granting of permission by the client to the therapist or agency to use specific interventions, including diagnosis, treatment, follow up, and research: this must be based on full disclosure of the facts needed to make the decision, including risks, benefits, and alternatives

Question 17

Punishment

Answer 17

A penalty imposed for misbehavior; in behavior modification, the presentation of an unpleasant or undesired event following behavior

Question 18

Projection

Answer 18

A defense mechanism in which unacceptable aspects of ones own personality are rejected or attributed to another person or entity

Question 19

Positive reinforcement

Answer 19

Strengthening a desired behavior or response by presenting a desired stimulus contingent on performance of the response

Question 20

Scapegoating

Answer 20

A phenomenon in groups in which members settle on a particular person to target or blame, though that person is often innocent; prevents true group cohesion and districts from the actual group purpose

Question 21

Supervision

Answer 21

An administrative and educational process used to help someone further develop and refine their skills, enhance staff morale, and provide quality assurance for clients

Question 22

Empowerment

Answer 22

The process of helping individuals, families, groups, and communities increase their strengths and develop influence toward improving their circumstances

Question 23

Ego Dystonic

Answer 23

Traits of personality, behavior, thought, or orientation considered to be unacceptable, repugnant, or inconsistent with the individuals perceptions - conscious or unconscious - of himself or herself

Question 24

Triangulation

Answer 24

The process in which one individual who feels pressured, distressed, or powerless in relationship to another individual brings into the relationship a third person to act as an ally or a distractor

Question 25

Enmeshment

Answer 25

A relationship pattern in which role boundaries between individuals are so vague or diffuse that there is little opportunity for independent functioning