Question 1

The disengagement theory views aging as a mutual withdrawal from family, support circles and friends. Societies around the world appear to endorse the idea of elders voluntarily slowing down. Sometimes this occurs when older adults lose their ability to drive, eat or bathe on their own. Which of the following factor most influences the extent to which an elderly person will interact with others?

Accepted Answer

A) Support services 
B) Abundant relatives 
C) Health and mobility 
D) Friends of the same age

Question 2

Sexual abuse, physical abuse, emotional abuse and neglect are attributable to a lack of appropriate parental care. When one of these problem is serious enough to adversely affect the progress and enjoyment of a child's life it is defined as what?

Accepted Answer

A) Emergency removal 
B) Significant harm 
C) Poor parenting 
D) Medical neglect

Question 3

A mother of three small children has sought help with parenting skills. The social worker will gather family history and use this to help set goals for the client. It is important not to set the goals too high or beyond reach. The mother is educated on a positive view of human nature with the focus on controlling one's own fate and not becoming a victim to it. This intervention is part of what kind of therapy?

Accepted Answer

A) Gestalt therapy 
B) Cognitive-behavioral therapy 
C) Psychoanalytic therapy 
D) Alderian therapy

Question 4

A social worker meets with a family to gather information that will help identify patterns of parental behavior, both positive and negative, over time. The family's strengths are distinguished to determine protective factors that aid in identifying resources to help the household meet its needs. Overall requirements are addressed that affect the permanency and safety of the children. Information gathered through other assessments is also used to help develop a service plan or plan for intervention. What kind of evaluation is being described?

Accepted Answer

A) Initial assessment 
B) Safety assessment 
C) Environmental assessment 
D) Comprehensive family assessment

Question 5

The nation's leading medical problem is not cancer, lung or heart disease. It has definite causes and affects one in five adult Americans. Research suggests genetic, neurological, biochemical, psychological and environmental origins. What condition is being described?

Accepted Answer

A) Hearing loss 
B) Vision loss 
C) Mental illness 
D) Physical disability

Question 6

Scott has been in and out of traditional therapy with little effect on his problems. He feels the main focus is on the issue rather than the solution, and this tends to place him in a passive, helpless role. He already knows what is wrong but wants to move towards what is right. What goal would a social worker aim for with this in mind?

Accepted Answer

A) Solution building 
B) Positive attitude 
C) Cognition 
D) Structured therapy

Question 7

A social worker is having difficulty assessing a client's disorder. Symptoms include compulsions, phobias, anxiety, depression, and mood swings. All of these are fairly common problems, so the social worker looks back into the patient's childhood. There she finds a history of sexual abuse by a guardian. This helps the social worker diagnose which disorder?

Accepted Answer

A) Post traumatic stress disorder 
B) Dissociative disorder 
C) Bi-polar disorder 
D) None of the above

Question 8

In an effort to keep his job and family, George has decided to seek therapy for his substance abuse problem. Since this type of psychological problem is viewed as an inability to make meaningful and self-directed choices on how to live, intervention should be directed at increasing George's self-awareness and understanding, with a focus on acceptance and growth. Which kind of therapy is this a description of?

Accepted Answer

A) Humanistic therapy 
B) Behavioral therapy 
C) Biomedical therapy 
D) Cognitive therapy

Question 9

When utilizing cognitive therapy as a form of direct practice, a social worker's main goal is to bring about which of the following changes in behavior?

Accepted Answer

A) Diminishing anger 
B) Becoming more aggressive 
C) Controlling mood swings 
D) Controlling emotional responses

Question 10

What form of depression is affected by body temperature, ambient light and hormone regulation?

Accepted Answer

A) Manic depressive 
B) Seasonal affective disorder 
C) Bi-polar 
D) Dysthymia

Question 11

In Maslow's hierarchy of needs, the need for love and esteem is referred to as emotional dependency. There are five levels of emotionally dependency, all necessary for children to grow into happy individuals. These levels are self-actualization, esteem, love and belonging and:

Accepted Answer

A) External fulfillment 
B) Emotional reciprocity 
C) Psychological dependence 
D) Physiological growth

Question 12

There is a wide range of symptoms and severity across the autism spectrum. Given this fact, which observation is most crucial in establishing a diagnosis of autism?

Accepted Answer

A) Impairment in social interaction and communication 
B) Impairment in memory and thinking 
C) Impairment in physical abilities 
D) Impairment with directives from authority figures

Question 13

Social workers take on many roles when assessing and providing intervention to their clients. For example, the mediator role involves resolving conflicts in various subsystems without taking sides. Which of the following is another role social workers play?

Accepted Answer

A) Parent 
B) Medical provider 
C) Psychologist 
D) Integrator

Question 14

Strategies utilized to cope with basic anxiety caused by interpersonal relationships can often be overused. When this happens, they take the appearance of needs as described within the neurosis theory. Which psychologist developed this idea?

Accepted Answer

A) Sigmund Freud 
B) Erik Erikson 
C) Karen Horney 
D) Piaget

Question 15

Depression has been called by different names, such as the blues, sadness, gloom and just being melancholy. Which of the following is a common symptom of depression?

Accepted Answer

A) Fatigue 
B) Difficulty with concentration 
C) Irritability 
D) All of the above

Question 16

People with Munchausen are aware they are exaggerating medical issues. What is the difference between that disorder and hypochondriasis?

Accepted Answer

A) Hypochondriacs believe they actually have a medical problem. 
B) Munchausen sufferers actually get treatment. 
C) Hypochondriacs do have a medical problem. 
D) There is no difference.

Question 17

Which theory describes individuals as being surrounded by supportive networks? This theory, unlike most psychological and behavioral theories, focuses on the inner relational transactions between systems. All existing elements play an equal role in maintaining balance.

Accepted Answer

A) Environmental systems approach 
B) Strength-based theory 
C) Nature vs. nurture theory 
D) Ecological systems perspective

Question 18

When developing a functioning service plan to maintain safety and permanence within a family, what type of assessment should be utilized?

Accepted Answer

A) Individual assessment 
B) Group assessment 
C) Family-centered assessment 
D) Child welfare assessment

Question 19

Most crises reach some kind of stability within four to eight weeks. Without professional intervention, the behaviors may remain with no opportunity for change. Sometimes recent events can reactivate a previous unresolved crisis. Intervention in a crisis situation will only be successful if the individual:

Accepted Answer

A) Recognizes the crisis as non threatening 
B) Is receptive to outside assistance 
C) Can differentiate between emotions 
D) Recognize behavioral changes

Question 20

Person-centered therapy demonstrates emotional understanding and sensitivity towards the client's point of view. The social worker's job is to listen and give complete attention to what the client is verbalizing. Which three attitudes on the part of the therapist make this therapy productive?

Accepted Answer

A) Empathy, compassion, and coerciveness 
B) Formality, positive reaction, and covert behavior 
C) Instruction, congruence and empathy 
D) Positive reaction, positive regard and congruence

Exam 1: Assessment: Assessments and Interventions in Social Work