Deck 4: Critical Theories

Question 1

Which of the following idea is consistent with critical theory?

A) questioning oppression
B) acceptance of progress
C) supporting inequality
D) promoting violent revolution

Answer 1

A

Question 2

Critical theorists posit that the ______ are in the best position to challenge all forms of oppression.

A) natural sciences
B) applied sciences
C) humanities
D) social sciences

Answer 2

D

Question 3

Critical theorists are most likely to support ______.

A) interdisciplinary research that integrates information, data, techniques, tools, perspectives, concepts, and/or theories from two or more disciplines
B) action research that involves research participants in decision-making in different aspects of research
C) empirical research that includes analyzing firsthand data collected from voluntary research participants
D) empirical research that includes analyzing secondary data collected by other researchers with similar interests

Answer 3

B

Question 4

A group is working to develop effective medical practices and treatment for a disease. According to critical theorists, which of the following groups should be involved in this process?

A) patients and their families
B) physicians and other medical professionals
C) patients, physicians, and lay participants
D) patients and nonpatients

Question 5

Feminist theorists are cautious about which of the following?

A) studying the experiences of diverse women of color, lesbians, those who are poor and others
B) engaging in activism to promote women's equality such as involvement in voter registration
C) promoting better family policies such as better nutrition and health care for mothers and children
D) following Marxists' tradition of understanding oppression based on economic inequality

Question 6

Which of the following statement is consistent with the critical race theory?

A) Races are categories that society invents, manipulates, and recreates.
B) The racial majorities tolerate advances in racial justice at all times.
C) Racial majorities are competent in explaining the consequences of racial oppression.
D) Racism is a rare experience for people of color in the United States.

Question 7

Regarding the empowerment model currently used in social work practice, which of the following statements is true?

A) It is often used to empower a social class.
B) It is applied with advantaged populations.
C) It addresses sociopolitical empowerment.
D) It focuses on personal and interpersonal empowerment.

Question 8

Which threat to liberation can be understood as both internal and external?

A) internalized oppression
B) a culture of silence
C) fear of freedom
D) divide and rule

Question 9

Which of the following best describes assistentialism?

A) the common dimension of subordination of the large majority by a small, powerful minority
B) the use of professionals as an instrument to keep people in their respective socioeconomic positions
C) the tendency to develop a fatalistic attitude that involves fearing the very possibility of liberation
D) the naïve state of being that leaves people without the power to change the status quo of being oppressed

Question 10

Fear of freedom can best be described as the ______.

A) common dimension of subordination of the large majority by a small, powerful minority
B) use of professionals as an instrument to keep people in their respective socioeconomic positions
C) tendency to develop a fatalistic attitude that involves fearing the very possibility of liberation
D) naïve state of being that leaves people without the power to change the status quo of being oppressed

Question 11

Which of the following best describes divide and rule?

A) the tendency to develop a fatalistic attitude that involves fearing the very possibility of liberation
B) the use of professionals as an instrument to keep people in their respective socioeconomic positions
C) the common dimension of subordination of the large majority by a small, powerful minority
D) the naïve state of being that leaves people without the power to change the status quo of being oppressed

Question 12

Which of the following statement is true about adaptation?

A) Adaptation is symptomatic of humanization.
B) Adaptation represents a strong form of self-defense.
C) Adaptation is a behavior characteristic of the animal sphere.
D) Adaptation causes people to change social injustice.

Question 13

Which of the following is true about Freire and his ideas?

A) His thought has impacted most academic disciplines and professions.
B) The influence of his ideas has been limited to the field of education.
C) In his writing, Freire advocated for the interests of the upper class.
D) American social work profession has fully embraced Freire's writings.

Question 14

According to Freire, ______ consciousness is defined as the awareness that recognizes social, economic, and political factors as causal forces that shape human behavior.

A) critical
B) naïve
C) false
D) real

Question 15

Which educational methods features gathering people in small groups and showing them slides of various cultural artifacts?

A) problem posing
B) culture circles
C) conscientization
D) banking education

Question 16

Which of the following statements is true about the banking model of education?

A) It forms solidarity between teachers and students, as well as between student groups.
B) It is a mutual effort that helps to facilitate the conscientization process.
C) It is problem-posing, which demythologizes the oppressor's insidious messages.
D) It is typically used by an oppressive class in order to maintain the current order.

Question 17

Which of the following statements is true about the liberatory model of education?

A) It helps people to develop their own capacity for praxis.
B) It maintains passivity by preventing a macro level awareness.
C) It deprives the capacity of people to develop critical consciousness.
D) It is an important tool for the ruling class to remain powerful.

Question 18

______ argued that individual citizens have equal footing no matter their place, status, and power in society.

A) Freire
B) Marx
C) Habermas
D) Horkheimer

Question 19

Freire was skeptical of the role of social workers because they ______.

A) are a tool for social control
B) help to promote social changes
C) provide concrete help to their clients
D) practice in too many different settings

Question 20

Critical theory is most consistent with ______ practice.

A) micro
B) mezzo
C) exo
D) macro

Question 21

Critical theories have been challenged because it ______.

A) is impossible to help oppressed communities develop critical consciousness
B) is difficult to differentiate between critical theory and empowerment theories
C) involves raising questions about the existing social and economic systems
D) is very difficult, if not impossible, to evaluate the effectiveness of critical theories

Question 22

______ defines people as "objects" who are unable to take responsibility for their own liberation.

A) Assistentialism
B) Culture of silence
C) Massification
D) Objectification

Question 23

When people are unaware of the conditions in which they live and how those conditions oppress them, they are demonstrating signs of ______.

A) critical consciousness
B) naïve consciousness
C) banking education
D) liberatory education

Question 24

When working with women with experience of sexual abuse, a social worker who practices critical theory will ______.

A) look at the early childhood experience of the women
B) question the ideologies that objectify women
C) examine the inequalities between women of different social class
D) talk about the inequalities between women of different social class

Question 25

Which of the following is part of Freire's ideas?

A) The oppressed communities can develop critical consciousness to empower them.
B) It is legitimate for the privileged groups to take control of other groups.
C) Social changes must be accompanied by violent revolution.
D) Naïve consciousness is the precursor for critical consciousness.

Question 26

Marx viewed getting and keeping collective power as the motive behind all social and political activity.

Question 27

Critical theory, broadly defined, can be used to analyze power inequalities related to racism, sexism, colonialism, and disability.

Question 28

American social workers readily accepted the use of critical theory in practice settings such as child welfare.

Question 29

According to Freire, Brazilian society and culture were slavocratic, antidemocratic, and dominated by an oppressive outside force.

Question 30

Conscientization is a broad term indicating the ongoing humanization of people as subjects.

Question 31

In your own words, briefly define "material circumstances" and "historic situations."

Question 32

Explain why supporting equality and engagement in the public sphere is important for all citizens.

Question 33

Compare and contrast naïve consciousness and critical consciousness.

Question 34

Explain why critical theories are consistent with social work values and ethics.

Question 35

Using pay differentials between men and women as an example, explain how critical theory can be used at two levels of practice.