ASWB BACHELORS ACTUAL
EXAMINATION 2026 QUESTIONS WITH
SOLUTIONS GRADED A+
⫸ Theories of Couples Development:
Romance Answer: -stage one
-begins at introduction, common interests, learning about each other
- focus of this stage is attachment
-romantic bond is foundational and critical to health of relationship
-members in engage in symbiotic or mutualistic relationships
⫸ Theories of Couples Development:
power struggle Answer: -stage two
-realize that they arent the same person
defining one's self
-loss of romance from self expression
-differentiation
-acknowledge differences, learn to share power and accept partners w/o
needing to change them
⫸ Theories of Couples Development:
stability Answer: stage three
becoming more independent within the relationship
,focus on personal needs
autonomy and individuality
disagreements can occur w/o a party "winning"
power struggles are avoided
ultimate goal is intimacy that doesn't sacrifice separateness
⫸ Theories of Couples Development:
commitment Answer: stage 4
marriage is ideal
good outweighs the bad
realization that they want to be together
still need work to effectively function in next/last stage of couple-hood
⫸ Theories of Couples Development:
co-creation Answer: stage 5
constancy
partners are able to value and respect separateness of the other
respect and mutual growth
work on projects together
creating positive change that benefits other people
⫸ Acting out Answer: Emotional conflict is dealt with through actions
rather than feelings
,instead of talking about feeling neglected, acting out to get attention
⫸ compensation Answer: enables one to make up for real or fancied
deficiencies. (little man syndrome)
⫸ conversion Answer: repressed urge is expressed disguised as a
disturbance of body function, usually the sensory, voluntary nervous
system
⫸ decompensation Answer: deterioration of existing defenses
⫸ denial Answer: primitive defense; inability to acknowledge true
significance of thoughts, feelings, events
⫸ devaluation Answer: Defense mechanism frequently used by
individuals with borderline personality organization in which a person
attributes exaggerated negative qualities to self or others. split of
primitive idealization
⫸ dissociation Answer: a process that enables a person to split mental
functions in a manner that allows them to express forbidden or
unconscious impulses w/o taking responsibility for the action bc they
dont remember it or bc they are not experienced as their own actions
⫸ displacement Answer: directing an impulse, wish or feeling toward a
person or situation that is not the real object
, (mad at boss, kicks dog)
⫸ idealization Answer: overestimation of an admired aspect or attribute
of another
⫸ identification Answer: universal mechanism whereby a person
patterns themself after a significant other. plays a major role in
personality development, especially superego
⫸ identification with the aggressor Answer: mastering anxiety by
identifying with a powerful aggressor to counteract feelings of
helplessness and to feel powerful oneself. (abusing others after one has
been abused themself)
⫸ Incorporation Answer: Primitive mechanism in which psychic
representation of a person (or parts of a person) is/are figuratively
ingested
⫸ inhibition Answer: loss of motivation to engage in activity avoided bc
it might stir up conflict over forbidden impulses
⫸ introjection Answer: loved or hated external objects are symbolically
absorbed within self (depressed, unconscious unacceptable hatred is
turned toward self)
EXAMINATION 2026 QUESTIONS WITH
SOLUTIONS GRADED A+
⫸ Theories of Couples Development:
Romance Answer: -stage one
-begins at introduction, common interests, learning about each other
- focus of this stage is attachment
-romantic bond is foundational and critical to health of relationship
-members in engage in symbiotic or mutualistic relationships
⫸ Theories of Couples Development:
power struggle Answer: -stage two
-realize that they arent the same person
defining one's self
-loss of romance from self expression
-differentiation
-acknowledge differences, learn to share power and accept partners w/o
needing to change them
⫸ Theories of Couples Development:
stability Answer: stage three
becoming more independent within the relationship
,focus on personal needs
autonomy and individuality
disagreements can occur w/o a party "winning"
power struggles are avoided
ultimate goal is intimacy that doesn't sacrifice separateness
⫸ Theories of Couples Development:
commitment Answer: stage 4
marriage is ideal
good outweighs the bad
realization that they want to be together
still need work to effectively function in next/last stage of couple-hood
⫸ Theories of Couples Development:
co-creation Answer: stage 5
constancy
partners are able to value and respect separateness of the other
respect and mutual growth
work on projects together
creating positive change that benefits other people
⫸ Acting out Answer: Emotional conflict is dealt with through actions
rather than feelings
,instead of talking about feeling neglected, acting out to get attention
⫸ compensation Answer: enables one to make up for real or fancied
deficiencies. (little man syndrome)
⫸ conversion Answer: repressed urge is expressed disguised as a
disturbance of body function, usually the sensory, voluntary nervous
system
⫸ decompensation Answer: deterioration of existing defenses
⫸ denial Answer: primitive defense; inability to acknowledge true
significance of thoughts, feelings, events
⫸ devaluation Answer: Defense mechanism frequently used by
individuals with borderline personality organization in which a person
attributes exaggerated negative qualities to self or others. split of
primitive idealization
⫸ dissociation Answer: a process that enables a person to split mental
functions in a manner that allows them to express forbidden or
unconscious impulses w/o taking responsibility for the action bc they
dont remember it or bc they are not experienced as their own actions
⫸ displacement Answer: directing an impulse, wish or feeling toward a
person or situation that is not the real object
, (mad at boss, kicks dog)
⫸ idealization Answer: overestimation of an admired aspect or attribute
of another
⫸ identification Answer: universal mechanism whereby a person
patterns themself after a significant other. plays a major role in
personality development, especially superego
⫸ identification with the aggressor Answer: mastering anxiety by
identifying with a powerful aggressor to counteract feelings of
helplessness and to feel powerful oneself. (abusing others after one has
been abused themself)
⫸ Incorporation Answer: Primitive mechanism in which psychic
representation of a person (or parts of a person) is/are figuratively
ingested
⫸ inhibition Answer: loss of motivation to engage in activity avoided bc
it might stir up conflict over forbidden impulses
⫸ introjection Answer: loved or hated external objects are symbolically
absorbed within self (depressed, unconscious unacceptable hatred is
turned toward self)
