Question 1

Describe how cultural nuances of nonverbal cues turn out to be a barrier to effective communication for social workers.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Describe how cultural nuances of nonverbal cues...

Question 2

A client is likely to discredit the message communicated by the social worker if:

Accepted Answer

A) ​the social worker uses facilitative questions to attain detailed information about specific problem areas. 
B) ​there is a discrepancy between the social worker's verbal and nonverbal communication. 
C) ​there is moment-to-moment contact between the client and the social worker. 
D) ​the social worker uses empathic communication to produce a cathartic release of negative feelings.

Question 3

Andrew loses his job because he came to work while he was under the influence of alcohol. He approaches Ron, a social worker, for a counseling session. After a brief conversation with Andrew, Ron says, "It is clear to me that you are in denial about what alcohol is doing to you." This scenario indicates that Ron is:

Accepted Answer

A) ​judging, criticizing, and placing blame. 
B) ​trying to convince using logic. 
C) ​making glib interpretations. 
D) ​using sarcasm and humor.

Question 4

Describe how stacking questions is a common verbal barrier to communication faced by beginning social workers.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Describe how stacking questions is a common...

Question 5

Assuming a position of superiority and quickly providing solutions for problems without encouraging clients to think through the possible courses of action:

Accepted Answer

A) ​fosters dependency and stifles creative thinking. 
B) ​encourages the clients to reveal their troubling feelings. 
C) ​serves to restore the comfort level of the clients. 
D) ​induces the clients to agree with a particular view.

Question 6

Inappropriate use of humor or sarcasm is described as a potential barrier to communication. Illustrate this with an example. Also, describe how humor is an aid to communication if done appropriately.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Inappropriate use of humor or sarcasm is...

Question 7

To minimize the pattern of interrupting inappropriately or excessively during a conversation with a client, a social worker should:

Accepted Answer

A) ​identify and prioritize key questions in advance with an outline. 
B) ​induce the client to agree with a particular view that he or she deems to be in his or her best interests. 
C) ​diffuse the client's focus by discussing past events. 
D) ​help the client identify his or her feelings as a means toward increasing his or her self-awareness.

Question 8

Discuss how judging, trying to convince, threatening, and making glib assessments are likely to occur with "captive clients" who cannot readily or safely decline services.

Accepted Answer

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Question 9

Linda, a social worker, communicates with Kate, a child in foster care. Linda asks Kate, "How are you feeling here? Do you feel comfortable? Do you want to stay?" In this scenario, Linda is:

Accepted Answer

A) ​asking leading questions. 
B) ​asking stacked questions. 
C) ​interrupting inappropriately. 
D) ​dominating the interaction.

Question 10

Mr. Gordon, who is suffering from depression, approaches a social worker to seek counseling. While Mr. Gordon speaks about his traumatic childhood experiences, the social worker squirms in her chair and continuously fidgets with her hands. This behavior of the social worker conveys:

Accepted Answer

A) ​her interest in the ongoing communication. 
B) ​her lack of concern for Mr. Gordon. 
C) ​her inability to understand Mr. Gordon's behavioral cue. 
D) ​her attempt to relieve Mr. Gordon's discomfort.

Question 11

In which of the following situations is "safe" social interaction advisable to be included as part of the helping process?

Accepted Answer

A) ​When children or adolescents need help in lowering their defenses 
B) ​When it is conducive to delay reaching a solution to a problematic area 
C) ​When a social worker is inexperienced and needs to manage his or her anxiety 
D) ​When a client resists a social worker's sarcastic and humor-filled conversation

Question 12

Members of some native American tribes regard eye-to-eye contact as a(n):

Accepted Answer

A) ​attack on credibility. 
B) ​breach of trust. 
C) ​intrusion on privacy. 
D) ​violation of equality.

Question 13

When a client responds "Yes, but I've already tried that" with little enthusiasm demonstrated for actually doing so, the response serves as a feedback clue that the social worker has slipped into the habit of:

Accepted Answer

A) ​giving premature advice. 
B) ​sympathizing with the situation. 
C) ​consoling the client. 
D) ​criticizing and blaming the client.

Question 14

Pursuing content that is only tangentially related to client concerns, issues of client and family safety, or legal mandates:

Accepted Answer

A) ​dominates the interaction with the client. 
B) ​justifies the rationale for the social worker's exploration of the topic. 
C) ​makes it impossible to shift the focus to the present experiences of the client. 
D) ​is a counterproductive interviewing strategy.

Question 15

Usage of social work jargon, such as fixation, resistance, reinforcement, repression, passivity, and neuroticism, by a social worker to describe the behavior of clients in their presence is:

Accepted Answer

A) ​destructive to the helping process. 
B) ​useful in convincing the clients. 
C) ​the correct form of incorporating sarcasm while communicating. 
D) ​the most efficient way of consoling the client.

Exam 7: Eliminating Counterproductive Communication Patterns and Substituting Positive Alternatives